BJP, JDS stage joint protest in Bengaluru over Valmiki scam, demand minister's resignation

Opposition parties in Karnataka, including the BJP and the JDS, held a joint protest in Bengaluru on Monday against the Congress-led state government over the alleged Valmiki fund scam.

Protesters marched from Freedom Park towards the Vidhan Soudha, demanding the immediate dismissal and resignation of the cabinet minister accused in the case. The opposition has alleged that tens of crores of rupees allocated for tribal welfare were illegally diverted to finance election campaigns.

The alleged scam involves funds meant for the welfare of the Valmiki community, a Scheduled Tribe. Investigators are probing forged documents and unauthorised bank accounts linked to the diverted funds.

The state leadership, in response, accused the opposition of disrupting legislative assembly sessions and engaging in political tactics.

State minister Priyank Kharge said he had no information about the CBI seeking the Governor's sanction to prosecute minister B Nagendra, according to a Udayavani report. The minister named in the scam is B Nagendra.

(With inputs from PTI)