Bengaluru, Saturday: Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy asserted that Karnataka Planning and Statistics Minister B. Nagendra resigned on 27 September to shield the Congress party from embarrassment linked to alleged irregularities in the Valmiki Corporation.
Kumaraswamy challenged Nagendra's explanation, asking what embarrassment the party faced and whether the reported Rs 84 crore scam forced the minister out. He queried, “Why was he compelled to step down? What specific loss triggered the resignation?”
The Union Minister also turned the spotlight on himself, rejecting claims that he has personal cases involving misappropriation of public funds. He described the accusations against him as politically motivated, noting that they have persisted for 14 years without any charge of taking money or causing fiscal loss.
Kumaraswamy emphasized that, despite serving twice as Karnataka Chief Minister, he never attempted to suppress investigations. “If I had erred, I could have closed the cases during my tenure. I chose to keep them open for scrutiny,” he said.
According to the minister, the state government faces mounting pressure over the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, where funds earmarked for tribal welfare were allegedly diverted to private individuals. He suggested that Nagendra's resignation was a tactic to deflect responsibility from the administration.
Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot has now asked the state cabinet for its view on granting prosecution sanction against Nagendra. The Governor is also seeking opinions on separate sanction requests concerning former minister Renukacharya and BJP MLA Gali Janardhana Reddy.
Government insiders indicate that the Karnataka administration is in a delicate position, balancing legal procedures with political ramifications while deciding on the sanction requests.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Mangalorean News