Nagendra accused the Opposition of reviving Manusmriti ideology, alleging political targeting of Dalits, Adivasis, women and minorities.
B Nagendra resigned as Karnataka Planning and Statistics Minister on Friday.
He stepped down only 25 days after joining the expanded Cabinet .
Nagendra said his resignation was intended to protect the Congress government from embarrassment .
He denied committing any wrongdoing in the Valmiki Corporation scam controversy.
The minister said his resignation was not an admission of guilt .
He claimed Chief Minister D K Shivakumar had defended him throughout the controversy.
Nagendra accused the BJP of politically targeting him because he is a Dalit and ST leader.
The BJP has been demanding action against Nagendra and increasing pressure on the Karnataka government.
The controversy could become an important political issue ahead of the next elections .
Nagendra said he was ready to face the people and prove his innocence .
Karnataka Minister B Nagendra Resigns From Cabinet Amid Valmiki Corporation Scam Allegations
Bengaluru: In a major political setback for the Karnataka Congress government led by Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Planning and Statistics Minister B Nagendra resigned from the state Cabinet on Friday, just 25 days after he was inducted during the second phase of the Cabinet expansion.
Nagendra announced his decision at a closely watched press conference, where he appeared emotional and broke down in tears while explaining why he had chosen to step down.
The ST Nayaka leader said his resignation was a voluntary decision aimed at protecting the Congress government from political embarrassment. He maintained that Chief Minister D K Shivakumar had stood by him and repeatedly defended him, saying Nagendra had not committed any wrongdoing.
“From the legislature session to Delhi to ‘galli’, CM DK Shivakumar defended me as I had not committed any mistake,” Nagendra said.
He added that the Congress government was working with full speed and that the Chief Minister was delivering on issues concerning the people of Karnataka. According to Nagendra, he decided to resign so that the controversy surrounding him would not affect the government or the party.
Nagendra denies wrongdoing
Nagendra strongly rejected the suggestion that his resignation amounted to an admission of guilt. He said he was prepared to face the people and prove his innocence in connection with allegations surrounding the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation scam.
His resignation comes after the controversy continued to create political pressure for the Congress government. The issue has also been used by the BJP to target the ruling party and demand action against Nagendra.
After returning from Delhi, where he met Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and senior Congress high command leaders, Nagendra addressed the media alongside several party leaders.
Those present included cabinet colleagues Rizwan Arshad and Dr Ajay Singh, Rajya Sabha members Syed Naseer Hussain and GC Chandrashekar, and MLA Nara Bharat Reddy, among others.
The show of support from fellow Congress leaders appeared aimed at demonstrating that Nagendra continued to have backing within the party despite the political controversy.
Nagendra accuses BJP of political targeting
During the press conference, Nagendra launched a sharp attack on the BJP. He alleged that the opposition party was targeting him because he is a Dalit and ST leader.
Nagendra claimed the BJP was attempting to turn the controversy into a political weapon against the Congress government. He alleged that the opposition wanted to weaken the ruling party and prevent it from establishing its own political narrative ahead of the next elections.
The BJP, meanwhile, has been pressing for Nagendra’s resignation over the allegations linked to the Valmiki Corporation issue. The opposition has planned political activities, including a long padayatra, to intensify pressure on the Congress government.
For the Congress leadership, Nagendra’s resignation comes at a politically sensitive moment. Although he insists that stepping down does not mean accepting responsibility for any wrongdoing, the development is likely to keep the controversy in the spotlight.
The emotional nature of his announcement also added a personal dimension to the political dispute, with Nagendra repeatedly stressing that he was willing to face the public and defend himself.