Ruckus breaks out in Karnataka Legislative Assembly over Maharishi Valmiki Corporation Board scam

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 16 (ANI): Ruckus broke out between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress legislators at the Karnataka Assembly over the alleged Karnataka Maharishi Valmiki Corporation Board scam and the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam.

“The master of corruption and scam is CN Ashwath Narayan, BJP MLA and former minister. You have no moral right to ask,” Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was heard saying.

In reply to this, BJP MLA V Sunil Kumar said, “You (Congress government) are the father of all scams and corruption. You people looted the money of Dalits and you are blaming us.”

Speaking to reporters, Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra said that money meant for the development of the Valmiki community has been exploited and used for Lok Sabha elections.

“The money meant for the upliftment of Dalits has been diverted to their guarantees. At the same time, money meant for the development of the Valmiki community has been exploited, looted, and used for the Lok Sabha elections…,” Vijayendra said.

The ruckus broke out the day after Karnataka BJP leaders staged a protest march to the Vidhana Soudha alleging deep-rooted corruption.

The scam pertains to the alleged illegal transfer of funds from the Maharshi Valmiki ST Corporation, which is charged with implementing welfare programmes for scheduled tribe members.

Karnataka Tribal Affairs and Sports Minister B Nagendra is currently in judicial custody till July 18 after the ED arrested him in connection with the alleged scam. The arrest came after the agency raided locations allegedly linked to Nagendra and Corporation MD Basanagouda Daddal. On July 13 the Karnataka court sent B Nagendra to Judicial Custody till July 18.

The alleged corruption case of Maharishi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation came to light after an official of the corporation died by suicide and left a note containing an allegation of multi-crore corruption in the corporation.