BJP steps up attack on Congress over North Karnataka issues

Veteran BJP leader B.S. Yediyurappa and other party leaders at the launch of Ballari Padayatra in Lingasugur, Raichur district, on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) padayatra from Lingasugur to Ballari on Tuesday saw several party leaders focus on alleged irregularities in welfare schemes, issues concerning Dalits, and the lack of drought-relief measures in Kalyana Karnataka.Former Minister C.T. Ravi said the BJP had decided to continue the padayatra even after B. Nagendra resigned as Minister, as the party believed that those responsible for the alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Limited should be punished. He said the agitation would continue until the ₹187 crore allegedly misappropriated in the corporation reached the State exchequer.Mr. Ravi also questioned the whereabouts of ₹7,500 crore allegedly meant for the Gruha Lakshmi scheme and said there were no satisfactory answers from the Congress government. He alleged that pensions to widows, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities were not being paid regularly.Referring to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s proposed visit to drought-hit taluks, Mr. Ravi said a mere visit would not help the affected people. “He must first announce relief measures and then visit the affected areas,” he said.Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanswamy focused on alleged atrocities against Dalits in Kalyana Karnataka. He alleged that two Dalit women had been raped and murdered, and two Dalit men had been murdered in separate incidents in the region, and claimed that no Congress leader or government representative had visited the families of the victims.Referring to the murder of a woman who had gone out to defecate in Raichur district, Mr. Narayanswamy alleged that government assistance meant for the construction of toilets had not reached the intended beneficiaries and that toilets had not been constructed on the ground. He demanded that the case be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), alleging that irregularities had taken place when Priyank Kharge was the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj.Former Minister B. Sriramulu accused the Congress government of “sitting in the palace and running the administration” and alleged that corruption had crossed all limits and law and order had deteriorated. He also raised the issue of farmers migrating in search of work and the alleged irregularities in the Valmiki Corporation.Mr. Sriramulu alleged that ₹56,000 crore under the SCSP and TSP had been diverted for other purposes and claimed that the government had failed to release funds for the Navali project despite a detailed project report having been prepared earlier.Former Minister Govind Karjol said the BJP’s agitation was not confined to a single issue but was against what he termed the “misrule” of the Congress government. He alleged that the funds meant for Dalit welfare had been diverted for other purposes and that the money involved in the Valmiki Corporation case had been used by the Congress leadership for its election campaigns in other States.Mr. Karjol demanded the immediate commencement of drought-relief works, including employment works and the opening of goshalas and fodder facilities. He also alleged irregularities involving funds meant for women.Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said the agitation had begun as a warning to the Congress government over alleged corruption and would receive wider public support. He alleged that the State was facing a severe drought, with 194 taluks affected, and accused the government of neglecting North Karnataka.Mr. Shettar also alleged that thousands of government posts remain vacant and claimed that officials were collecting bribes in the names of Ministers. He predicted that more Ministers could face pressure to resign in the coming days.Veteran party leader B.S. Yediyurappa flagged off the padayatra while party workers and leaders played bugles and traditional drums. BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashok, former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, MLAs Gali Janardhan Reddy and Manappa Vajjal and other leaders were present. Published - September 01, 2026 07:52 pm IST