'BJP can't scare me with ED, CBI': B Nagendra slams 'manuwadis' after stepping down as Karnataka minister

The Congress leader announced his resignation as the minister for planning and statistics in Karnataka as well as from his MLA seat.

Congress leader B Nagendra, after stepping down as Karnataka minister less than a month after his induction, slammed who he referred to as “Manuwadis”, and criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Nagendra on Friday said the BJP could not “scare him” with ED and CBI, while claiming that he had been “targeted” by “Manuwadis” because they did not want a tribal man to grow, PTI news agency reported.

The Congress leader announced his resignation as the minister for planning and statistics in Karnataka as well as from his MLA seat after allegations of his involvement in financial irregularities at the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation.

Nagendra, in tears while relaying his decision, said he was stepping down of his own will to avoid “embarrassment” to his party. “I am resigning of my own will to avoid the embarrassment that may cost my party because of unnecessary allegations made by the opposition party against me,” he said, while alleging that he was a “victim” of BJP's “Manuwadi” politics.

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His resignation came amid political pressure on him and the Congress party over the alleged Valmiki Corporation scam. The BJP has been demanding his resignation since his induction into chief minister DK Shivakumar's cabinet on August 3.

BJP's resignation demand, Cong's backing of Nagendra

Despite the BJP's repeated demands seeking Nagendra's resignation, the Congress and CM DK Shivakumar had backed him publicly. The BJP and its ally JD(S) had earlier this week mobilised large number of workers and taken out a protest march to the Vidhana Soudha, seeking Nagendra's removal as minister.

Several protesters were detained, with BJP leaders B Y Vijayendra, R Ashoka and others taken into preventive custody. The BJP and JD(S) had also stalled proceedings in both Houses of the Karnataka legislature, calling for Nagendra's dismissal.

However, the Congress in Karnataka took a firm stand to back Nagendra, stating that no court of law had convicted him. “Let the opposition parties give a notice to discuss the issue in the House. There are many Union ministers facing criminal cases by the Enforcement Directorate (ED),” CM Shivakumar had said, adding that there was no question of seeking Nagendra’s resignation.

Nagendra himself had denied reports that he had offered to resign, saying there was no discussion regarding the same. “The reports currently being aired in the media are completely untrue. I have not received any call from the Chief Minister's Office, and there has been no discussion regarding any resignation. I request your cooperation,” a statement from Nagendra's office said, according to PTI.

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