India News | Karnataka Dalit Valmiki Corporation Scam: BJP-JD(S) to Lay Siege to Vidhana Soudha on Monday, Announces LoP R Ashoka

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], August 23 (ANI): Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, R Ashoka, launched a scathing attack on the ruling Congress government on Sunday over the alleged multi-crore Karnataka Dalit Valmiki Corporation scam, announcing that the BJP, in alliance with the JD(S), "will lay siege" to the Vidhana Soudha on Monday to demand accountability.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Ashoka alleged that Rs 187 crore belonging to the Valmiki Corporation was looted from the state treasury to finance Congress election campaigns in Karnataka and Telangana.

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"For the past one week, it has been common knowledge that Rs 187 crore belonging to the Karnataka Dalit Valmiki Corporation was looted from the treasury and sent for the Congress party's elections in Karnataka and Telangana. I have released the documents in this regard. Despite this, the Congress leaders are protesting against us. Why are they protesting against our protest? The ruling party itself is taking to the streets in protest because they want to hide the truth. If there was no truth in these allegations, there would have been no need for them to come onto the streets. The people would have decided for themselves, saying, "There is no truth in this"," Ashoka said.

He said that party workers across the state have been staging day-and-night agitations in every district for the past week, pushing the state government onto the back foot. Announcing a major demonstration on Monday, the Leader of Opposition said the march would be led jointly by senior leaders from the NDA alliance.

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"The money of the Valmiki Corporation, which belongs to Dalits and should have reached the poor, has been looted. This is the voice of the people. BJP workers across the state are protesting in all districts. For the past one week, we have been holding protests day and night at district centres. As a result, the government is now in a difficult situation. We will not leave it at this. Tomorrow too, we are organising a programme to lay siege to the Vidhana Soudha. At 9 a.m. tomorrow, our BJP workers will march from Freedom Park and lay siege to the Vidhana Soudha. I will also participate in it. State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra will also take part. The protest will begin from Freedom Park at 9 a.m. tomorrow and will continue with the intention of making the government answerable.

"I have already had a detailed discussion with H.D. Kumaraswamy, our Union Minister from the NDA and the state president of the JD(S). He said that this should be continued for another week, that the issue has reached the people, and that we should continue it. I will convey the same to our party members. Therefore, we will continue the protest on Monday as well," Ashoka added.

Dismissing claims that former minister B Nagendra is being targeted or that he has been given a clean chit, Ashoka said, "This is not simply about Nagendra. It is about Nagendra in connection with the Rs 187 crore of Dalit money belonging to the Valmiki Corporation that was allegedly siphoned off."

"The CBI has attached properties belonging to Nagendra under the court's supervision and knowledge. You said the SIT put them through a 'washing machine' and gave them a clean chit, washing away all stains. But look at the SIT's own records. There is the FSL report of the Karnataka State Forensic Science Laboratory, not from Delhi. The report clearly records certified copies of mobile-to-mobile communications and WhatsApp chats between B Nagendra and accused Nekkundi Nagaraj. There is documentary evidence of what they discussed," he added.

He further alleged that the forensic records clearly document how the siphoned money was routed across different locations.

"The records contain details of where the money had to be sent, how much had to be paid to whom, how the money was to be transferred, how much had to go to Ballari and how much had to go to Andhra Pradesh. The relevant numbers and transactions are all mentioned in the FSL report. Nekkundi Nagaraj has been arrested, and the government itself accepts that he is an accused. The forensic evidence and call records show how many times Nagaraj spoke to Nagendra during this period, when this incident took place and the nature of their close association. They have spoken about the money deal not once but hundreds of times. It is mentioned in the SIT records. They may say the SIT acted under political pressure, but the records themselves contain these details," he added.

Hitting out at the Congress for allegedly invoking caste identity to defend the accused minister, Ashoka pointed out that the diverted funds belonged to marginalised communities.

"Now they say we are targeting a Dalit because of Nagendra. Is Nagendra the only Dalit? Are there no other Dalit leaders? Mahadevappa is a Dalit, Ganesh is a Dalit, and others are also Dalits. If you want, remove everyone and appoint four Dalits as ministers; we have no objection and will attend the swearing-in ceremony ourselves. But instead, they keep repeating, 'Nagendra is a Dalit, Nagendra is a Dalit'. Fine, but didn't he know whose money it was when it was allegedly taken? It was Dalits' money. Earlier, during Siddaramaiah's tenure, around Rs 42,000 crore meant for Dalits was diverted from the SCP/TSP funds. That money should have gone towards the welfare and development of Dalits. It should have supported Dalit students, helped them become engineers and doctors, paid their fees, and developed schools," he argued.

The LoP also questioned the state government over sanctioning prosecution against the accused, alleging that the Cabinet is actively seeking to shield Nagendra while clearing prosecution for opposition leaders.

"If Nagendra's name is not there, why did the CBI seek permission from the Governor? In one charge sheet alone, there are 35 accused, and the case extends up to 50 accused. Now they are talking about granting sanction for prosecution. I am saying this in advance: there is a lot of corruption in the Cabinet, and this Cabinet will not give permission to investigate or prosecute Nagendra. Three requests have been made by the Lokayukta and CBI involving Nagendra, Janardhana Reddy, and Renukacharya. The Cabinet will grant permission against BJP leaders Renukacharya and Janardhana Reddy, but they will deny permission in Nagendra's case. You have to understand the real intention behind this," Ashoka remarked.

Invoking constitutional morality, Ashoka questioned top Congress leaders for failing to safeguard public funds.

"We want to ask the Congress leaders: Whenever they get an opportunity, they carry the Constitution in their hands. They carry it to swearing-in ceremonies and even to the Assembly. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra, who are always seen carrying the Constitution around, our fight is not against any individual. Our fight is to uphold the ideals of the Constitution. Our fight is for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes. Our fight is to ensure the proper utilisation of taxpayers' money.

For the sake of one person, for the sake of Nagendra, why was money meant for an entire community and for thousands of people belonging to that community allegedly looted? This is our question," Ashoka said. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)