Karnataka Congress MLAs and MLCs staged a demonstration outside the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Friday, 21 August, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of deliberately obstructing Assembly proceedings. The protest centred on BJP's demand for the resignation of Minister for Planning and Statistics B. Nagendra over his alleged involvement in the Karnataka tribal welfare scam.

Protest on Vidhana Soudha Premises

The Congress legislators assembled near the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Vidhana Soudha grounds, holding placards and raising slogans against the BJP. Notably, Minister B. Nagendra himself joined the demonstration. Protesters alleged that BJP leaders had no moral authority to demand resignations, pointing to their own party members' alleged involvement in the theft of temple valuables.

What the Congress Said

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President and MLC B.K. Hariprasad said the state is facing a serious crisis, with drought relief operations under way in 18 districts and acute drinking water shortages affecting residents. He alleged the BJP was blocking Assembly discussions on these pressing issues to shield the Centre from scrutiny over the pending release of ₹10,000 crore in drought relief funds for Karnataka.

'The Opposition is scared of a discussion because it fears criticism of the Centre. They want to divert attention from everything. Let the discussion happen on Minister Nagendra; it will be over in one day. We will provide all the material to prove that he has no role,' Hariprasad said. He added that the session would continue until 27 August and that 'the people will decide whether the BJP is anti-people.'

Home Minister Kharge Hits Back at BJP

Minister for Home, IT and BT Priyank Kharge sharply questioned the BJP's standing to demand a minister's resignation. 'Who are the BJP leaders to demand his resignation? Has the BJP become the Supreme Court or the High Court by itself? Is it the Lokayukta?' he said. Kharge pointed to sitting chief ministers in Assam and Bihar who face cases and yet continue in office, and alleged that individuals in the Central government are similarly 'tainted.'

He also noted that the Central Investigation Department (CID) had not named Nagendra, while the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had named him in its second chargesheet — a sequence he described as politically motivated. 'It is very clear that this is motivated by the Centre,' Kharge charged.

Minister Nagendra Defends Himself

Minister B. Nagendra denied wrongdoing and alleged that the BJP's campaign against him was driven by caste prejudice. 'The Congress party and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar have repeatedly called them for discussions. They are unnecessarily indulging in politics. They claim that it is a ₹184 crore scam, but all the money has been recovered. The SIT subsequently gave me a clean chit,' he said.

Nagendra, who is currently on bail in connection with Enforcement Directorate (ED) and CBI investigations, said he has not been convicted and invoked precedents of chief ministers in other states who obtained bail and remained in office. 'They are outraged because a Dalit has become a minister,' he alleged.

What Happens Next

The Karnataka Assembly session is scheduled to run until 27 August. The standoff between the ruling Congress and the BJP opposition over Minister Nagendra's continuance in office is expected to dominate proceedings. The release of Central drought relief funds for Karnataka's 18 affected districts remains a flashpoint, with Congress framing the BJP's disruptions as an attempt to avoid accountability on that front.