Bengaluru, Aug 11 (IANS) BJP state president and MLA, B.Y. Vijayendra, on Tuesday strongly criticised the government for reinducting former minister B. Nagendra into the Karnataka Cabinet, calling the decision “unforgivable” and warning that the BJP and JD(S) would intensify their agitation if he is not dropped before the Assembly session.

Vijayendra alleged that Nagendra himself had acknowledged irregularity in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. He said the former minister had not received a complete clean chit in the case and questioned the government’s decision to bring him back into the Cabinet.

“Why was there a compulsion to induct Nagendra into the Cabinet? What was the government afraid of?” Vijayendra asked.

He demanded that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar drop Nagendra from the Cabinet before the commencement of the Assembly session. If Nagendra is not asked to resign, the BJP and JD(S) will fight the issue both inside and outside the legislature, he said.

“The BJP-JD(S) struggle will continue until Nagendra resigns,” Vijayendra warned.

It can be recalled that the Karnataka tribal welfare case involves the illegal siphoning funds from the state-run Maharishi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Limited.

The scam triggered major political fallout, leading to the resignation and arrest of the then-Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister, B. Nagendra, and probes by central investigation agencies the CBI and ED, while the state’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has given him a clean chit in the case.

Meanwhile, the BJP leader also accused the Karnataka government of failing to address the problems faced by people in the state since it came to power. He alleged that development activities had slowed down and that ordinary people were facing severe difficulties.

Vijayendra claimed that social security pensions, including old-age, widow and disability pensions, were not being released properly. He also alleged that the government had failed to release incentives due to milk producers.

He said farmers were facing additional difficulties due to inadequate rainfall and the resulting crop losses.

“The BJP will effectively raise the burning issues faced by the people during the Assembly session. For serious discussions on these issues, the session must function smoothly and effectively. The government must answer the questions raised by the Opposition,” he said.

Vijayendra further accused the state government of prioritising the interests of the party’s high command over the problems faced by people in Karnataka.

“The drought situation in the state is serious and farmers are suffering. But the government is more concerned about the Congress high command’s politics than the problems of the people,” he alleged.

Vijayendra said the Opposition would use the Assembly session to raise issues concerning farmers, social security beneficiaries, milk producers and other sections of society, besides pressing the government on the decision to reinduct Nagendra into the Cabinet.

–IANS

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