The Karnataka Legislature remained disrupted for a fifth consecutive day on Friday, August 21, as the BJP and JD(S) continued their protest demanding the removal of Planning and Statistics Minister B Nagendra over the alleged Valmiki Corporation scam.
The Opposition disrupted proceedings in both Houses, while Congress legislators accused the BJP of deliberately preventing discussions on drought, drinking water shortages and Karnataka’s demand for financial assistance from the Union government.
The standoff began on August 17, with the Opposition initially raising the issue of alleged forest encounter killings before shifting its focus to Nagendra. The BJP has demanded that the minister resign over his alleged connection to the alleged embezzlement of Rs 187 crore from the Maharshi Valmiki Development Corporation.
Nagendra had resigned from the Cabinet in 2024 after his name emerged in connection with the case. He was re-inducted into the Cabinet around a fortnight ago when Chief Minister D K Shivakumar expanded his ministry, prompting the BJP to renew its demand for his resignation.
Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka accused the Congress government of protecting Nagendra at the expense of legislative business.
“The financial scam has robbed the poor belonging to the Scheduled Tribes community in Karnataka. The money has been transferred to multiple accounts, including one transfer of Rs 1.2 crore to his family member. The Legislature’s business is getting affected because the Congress is trying to protect him,” Ashoka said.
Ashoka also released documents that he claimed showed illegal transfers of funds from the corporation. He alleged that the corporation, when Nagendra was in charge of the department, had violated Finance Department rules and circulars.
“Three chargesheets have been filed by the CBI against him. There is a chargesheet by the Enforcement Directorate. In Lokayukta, there are 31 chargesheets,” Ashoka said. The CBI had recently sought Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s sanction to prosecute Nagendra in connection with the alleged Rs 89.63-crore embezzlement in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation case.
BJP legislators staged a protest near the Maharshi Valmiki statue at Legislators’ Home on Friday and wore black T-shirts carrying the words “corrupt Nagendra”. Marshals prevented the legislators from entering the Assembly premises, but the BJP members subsequently forced their way in.
Before the Assembly proceedings began, Speaker GS Patil held a meeting with floor leaders of the ruling and Opposition parties in an effort to break the deadlock. Following his suggestion, Opposition legislators agreed not to wear the black T-shirts inside the House.
The meeting, however, did not end the disruption. BJP members continued to raise slogans during the proceedings and are expected to continue their protest when the Assembly meets on Monday, August 24.
The Congress and BJP also held separate demonstrations on the Legislature premises on Friday. Congress Ministers and legislators, including Nagendra, protested in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue, calling for the smooth functioning of the session.
The ruling party said the session needed to discuss drought conditions and shortages of drinking water and fodder in several parts of Karnataka. Congress leaders accused the BJP and JD(S) of preventing the government from raising these issues in the House.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president BK Hariprasad alleged that the BJP was disrupting the session to prevent the state government from putting pressure on the Union government for financial assistance.
“The BJP believes that after discussions, the State government may bring pressure on the Union government to release funds. Already, the State has sought a compensation of Rs 10,000 crore from the Union Government, apart from a team to study the situation in Karnataka. The BJP is disrupting the House to protect Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah,” Hariprasad said.
He also accused the BJP of selectively raising corruption allegations against the Congress government.
“If a corruption charge is proved, the party will seek resignation from the individual or suspend them. Seven BJP Chief Ministers in the country are facing serious charges. Let them not teach us lessons,” he said.
The disruption has also triggered concern in the Legislative Council, where Chairman Saleem Ahmed criticised the continued protests and appealed to the Opposition to allow the House to function.
Ahmed said he had asked BJP members to submit a notice and seek a discussion on the allegations against Nagendra. He pointed out that Question Hour had traditionally not been disrupted because it allows legislators to obtain answers from the government.
“I asked opposition leaders to give notice and discuss the (Nagendra’s) issue. This House has had a long tradition of not disrupting the Question Hour as it’s an opportunity for legislators to get answers from the government. But BJP did not yield,” Ahmed said.
Despite the disruption, Ahmed said he proceeded with the scheduled business because the government was spending substantial amounts to conduct the legislature session.
“It is not good for democracy. People are watching us. Schoolchildren are in the visitors’ gallery watching the proceedings. It reflects poorly on all of us. Writers and intellectuals have been calling me to express their disappointment,” he said.
The Council passed three Bills by voice vote without debate and introduced three other Bills. Nine more Bills are expected to be tabled during the session.
Ahmed said he hoped a meeting of floor leaders scheduled for Monday would help resolve the stalemate.
On Thursday, the Chairman had attempted to ease tensions by initiating a discussion on former Chief Minister D Devaraj Urs on his birth anniversary. BJP legislators took part in the discussion but returned to their protest afterwards.
More than 25 Congress legislators have also petitioned the Council Chairman, alleging breach of privilege against Opposition members. They said the disruptions were preventing them from raising issues such as drought, Central grants, man-animal conflict and the Kasturirangan report, and sought “appropriate action”.
The Opposition, however, maintains that Nagendra’s presence in the Cabinet is unacceptable while allegations against him remain unresolved.
“We are not personally opposed to Nagendra. But he is facing cases and is out on bail. Only the SIT under the state government has given him a clean chit. You may induct two more ST ministers but not a tainted minister,” said Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council.
Shivakumar, who had earlier said he wanted the issue discussed in the House, defended Nagendra’s re-induction and challenged the Opposition to bring its allegations before the legislature.
“As KPCC chief I had asked Nagendra to resign. We kept him out of Cabinet for two years and conducted inquiry. Opposition should give notice and place facts before the people. Let us discuss it for two days. I will reply why we inducted Nagendra,” Shivakumar said.
The BJP’s continued protest has also been linked to its broader political strategy against the Congress government. According to the information provided, the state BJP has received directions from its central leadership to sustain the agitation until Nagendra is removed, drawing a parallel with the Congress’s protests in Parliament demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
With the Opposition indicating that it will continue its protest on Monday, the floor leaders’ meeting is likely to be crucial in determining whether normal legislative proceedings can resume.