Karnataka: BJP Protests Against Valmiki Corp & MUDA 'Scams'; Congress Alleges Misuse Of Agencies

The protest comes as ED has arrested sitting Congress MLA and former state cabinet minister B Nagendra in connection with the Valmiki Corporation case.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held a protest in Freedom Park against the Karnataka Congress government on its role in the alleged irregularities in the Valmiki Corporation and a purported scam involving the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) on Thursday.

While participating in the protest, BJP Spokesperson Malavika Avinash said, "The major demand is resignation of Siddaramaiah. This protest is just the beginning. It is against the corrupt Congress government which has indulged in scams shamelessly. Siddaramaiah has himself been caught in MUDA scam which is of 3,000-4,000 crore. 187 crore was diverted for Congress' elections."

 

On Valmiki scam, Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra said, "Day by day new information is emerging, especially after ED took over the probe. Today, it has come to light that money was utilised for the purchase of liquor in neighbouring states during Lok Sabha elections. Congress govt is trying to divert the issue. BJP is doing a protest on this issue in Freedom Park today."

The protest comes a day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged that a significant amount of misappropriated funds from the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Limited were used to procure liquor during the recent Lok Sabha elections and to buy high-priced vehicles.

The ED has arrested sitting Congress MLA and former state cabinet minister B. Nagendra in connection with the case. They issued a statement implicating Nagendra's associates in fund diversion and cash management. Nagendra, who previously served as the minister of Tribal Welfare and Sports, was arrested last week following raids on him and Congress MLA Basanagouda Daddal in Bengaluru.

Congress Ministers Respond To Allegations

Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister Krishna Byre Gowda claimed that agencies like the ED, IT, and CBI were being misused to pressure those under investigation to implicate top leaders in the alleged Maharishi Valmiki Corporation scam. Similarly, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge questioned the selective interest of federal agencies pointing out their silence on other corporations like Bhovi and Thanda.

Karnataka Minister and Congress leader Krishna Byre Gowda criticising the use of federal agencies in the investigation said, "They are using them (agencies like ED, IT, and CBI) to attack the opposition. Even in Karnataka, they used Operation Kamala to topple the government. Now it's not possible, so they're misusing the ED and IT. The ED is pressurizing the person under investigation to implicate top leaders in the alleged Maharishi Valmiki Corporation scam. They have no intention of finding culprits, they only want confessions to destabilize the government." 

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge echoed similar sentiments, questioning the selective interest of federal agencies. "In Karnataka, ED and CBI are more interested in the Maharishi Valmiki Corporation alleged scam. Why were they quiet about the Bhovi Corporation, Thanda Corporation, etc.? It seems they are targeting the opposition. ED officials are using all possible tactics to target opposition members. We will fight this legally," Kharge stated.