BJP launches 10-day Padayatra against alleged corruption in Karnataka Govt

The Opposition BJP in Karnataka on Tuesday kick-started a 10-day ‘Padayatra’ from Raichur to Ballari to protest against the alleged corruption under the Congress Government in the State.

The BJP targeted Chief Minister DK Shivakumar for re-inducting Ballari Rural MLA B Nagendra in the cabinet, who they alleged was involved in the Rs 89 crore scam in Karnataka State Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.

Nagendra had resigned as Tribal Development Minister in June 2024 when the scam came to light following the suicide of a corporation official, P Chandrasekharan, who left behind a detailed suicide note. He was re-inducted on August 3.

The opposition party had disrupted the legislative session, demanding Nagendra’s removal. The din compelled assembly speaker GS Patil and legislative council chairperson Saleem Ahmed to adjourn the proceedings of the Houses sine die on August 24, cutting it short by three days.

Senior party leaders, including three former Chief Ministers – BS Yediyurappa, Basavaraj Bommai and Jagadish Shettar, led the agitation at Lingasugur in Raichur district.

Addressing the gathering, Yediyurappa termed the Padayatra a protest against the “power-drunk” Congress Government.

“This Government, which is drunk on the power of its mandate, is anti-farmer, anti-people, anti-environment, anti-women and involved in corruption. Our struggle will continue until this Government is removed,” Yediyurappa said.

He asked Shivakumar whether he has any freedom at all because he has to run to Delhi for every issue.

“If you have to go and bow at Rahul Gandhi’s feet for everything, are you really the Chief Minister? Are you doing anything that brings dignity to the office of Chief Minister? The people of the state are watching all this,” the BJP stalwart in Karnataka said.

In his speech, Yediyurappa’s son and BJP state president BY Vijayendra called the Padayatra “historic” “because it has the power to change the political atmosphere in Karnataka in the days ahead.”

“We wanted to expose the Congress before the people of the state for shedding crocodile tears in the name of Dalits. We succeeded in sending a corrupt person home,” the BJP State Chief said.

The Shikaripura MLA said the Congress Government headed by Shivakumar is “of the corrupt, by the corrupt and for the corrupt”.