B.Y. Vijayendra, President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Karnataka unit and Member of the Legislative Assembly, on Wednesday, 2 September alleged that the ruling Congress government in Karnataka was demanding bribes from farmers to declare drought-affected areas in Raichur district. The allegations came during the second day of the BJP's padayatra in Maski, where Vijayendra also accused the government of neglecting farmers, Dalits, youth, and the poor.

Bribery Allegations Over Drought Declaration

Speaking at Maski, Vijayendra claimed the region was enduring a severe drought that had yet to receive an official drought-affected designation. He alleged that the Congress dispensation was making such declarations contingent on payments from affected farmers.

'There is no work in this Congress government without paying a bribe. If the farmers of Maski pay Rs 10 lakh or Rs 50 lakh as a bribe, the Chief Minister may declare this area drought-affected,' he alleged.

Vijayendra had earlier taken a break from the march to inspect drought conditions and millet crops along Bedar Karlukunti Road in Raichur district. Former minister B. Sriramulu and MLA Raju Gowda accompanied him during the on-ground inspection.

SCSP and TSP Fund Diversion Charge

Vijayendra further alleged that ₹52,000 crore allocated under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) had been diverted to other departments, depriving Dalits of housing, education, and other welfare benefits.

'Employment opportunities for youth could have been created. Houses could have been built for Dalits. The money could have been used to strengthen education and provide drinking water to the doorsteps of poor people. Instead, the funds were diverted to other departments. Even God will not forgive you,' he said.

Valmiki Corporation Scam Allegations

Referring to the BJP's ongoing agitation, Vijayendra alleged that ₹187 crore had been siphoned off from the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. He claimed the funds had been used as a 'tribute' to the Congress high command and said the padayatra was launched specifically to demand accountability from the government over this alleged diversion.

'The announcement of our padayatra has created panic in the Chief Minister. There is fear that the Chief Minister's chair could be threatened, which is why the minister was made to resign,' he alleged.

K.N. Rajanna Resignation Cited

Vijayendra also questioned the Congress government's stated commitment to Dalit welfare by referencing the resignation of former minister and senior Congress leader K.N. Rajanna. He alleged Rajanna, who belongs to the Scheduled Tribe community, was forced to resign within 24 hours of speaking against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

'Chief Minister, when Rajanna, who belongs to the Scheduled Tribe community, spoke against Rahul Gandhi, was he not made to resign within 24 hours? Is this your concern for Dalits?' he asked.

BJP's Counter-Narrative on Governance

Vijayendra highlighted welfare schemes introduced during the tenure of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, including the Bhagyalakshmi scheme, 108 ambulance services, and construction of concrete roads in Dalit colonies, contrasting them with what he described as the Congress government's failures. He urged citizens to work towards removing what he called an 'anti-people' government. The Congress government in Karnataka is yet to respond formally to these allegations.