Bengaluru: Opposition Leader R Ashoka on August 11, Tuesday demanded the immediate resignation of Minister B Nagendra, warning that the BJP would not allow the legislature session to function as long as Nagendra continued in the Cabinet.
Addressing reporters, Ashoka questioned why the Chief Minister should respond to every issue in the Assembly when individual ministers are responsible for their respective departments. He said the government must uphold the constitutional role of ministers and allow the Opposition to raise issues of public importance.
“If the Chief Minister has to answer everything in the House, what are the ministers there for? They are provided cars, houses and other facilities with taxpayers’ money. This is not a monarchy. The government must respect the Constitution drafted under the leadership of Dr B R Ambedkar,” Ashoka said.
He alleged that the government was avoiding discussion on important issues, including the Valmiki Corporation case, KPSC recruitment and the proposed Bidadi township. “If the government wants the session to function smoothly, the Chief Minister must first obtain Nagendra’s resignation,” he said.
Ashoka also announced that the BJP would launch protests across Karnataka. Party workers would stage demonstrations in front of district commissionerates and continue their agitation both inside and outside the legislature during the session.
He questioned why Nagendra, who had earlier resigned from the Cabinet in connection with the Valmiki Corporation controversy, had subsequently been brought back into the ministry.
According to Ashoka, several cases linked to the matter are still under investigation by different agencies. He claimed that cases were pending before the CBI, Lokayukta, SIT and CID, among others, and questioned how Nagendra could effectively discharge his ministerial responsibilities while facing multiple legal proceedings.
“His time will be spent attending court proceedings. When will he come to Vidhana Soudha and when will he work for his department?” Ashoka asked. He further alleged that the Valmiki Corporation controversy involved diversion of funds meant for the Scheduled Tribe community. Referring to the alleged irregularities, he said the government’s decision to retain Nagendra in the Cabinet had damaged the credibility of the entire ministry.
Ashoka also criticised the government over the recent controversy involving the Legislative Council Chairman. He alleged that the Chairman was pressured to resign instead of facing a formal no-confidence process.
“The Speaker or Chairman holds a constitutional and respected position. Such posts should not be reduced to political bargaining,” he said.Turning his attack towards Bengaluru civic administration, Ashoka accused the Congress government of imposing additional financial burdens on residents in the name of cleanliness and waste management.
He alleged that the government was introducing new taxes and charges under the “Clean Bengaluru” initiative despite waste management already being covered by existing municipal taxation.“The Congress has started a new loot in the name of Clean Bengaluru. Waste management is already part of the taxes people pay. Yet the government is imposing additional charges on citizens,” Ashoka said.
He also criticised the civic authorities over potholes, encroachments and parking issues. Claiming that several city roads remained damaged, he said the government had failed to address basic civic problems despite collecting various taxes from residents. Ashoka alleged that more than 20 lakh beneficiaries had not received pensions for several months and questioned the government’s priorities.He also opposed the increase in waste collection charges for apartments, claiming that the monthly fee had been substantially increased.
“After collecting house tax, the government should not burden people with another tax. The waste collection charge for flats has reportedly gone up from Rs 40 to Rs 400. This is nothing but an additional burden on residents,” he said. Ashoka said Bengaluru residents would respond to the Congress government through the upcoming Greater Bengaluru Authority elections.
