Must resign: R Ashoka targets DKS minister over Rs 187 crore Dalit fund diversion

R Ashoka alleged that Rs 187 crore meant for Scheduled Caste beneficiaries was diverted for Congress election activities and demanded minister B Nagendra's resignation.R Ashoka alleged that Rs 187 crore meant for Scheduled Caste beneficiaries was diverted for Congress election activities.Karnataka Leader of Opposition and BJP leader R Ashoka launched a sharp attack on the Congress government, alleging that Minister of Youth Empowerment and Sports B Nagendra diverted Rs 187 crore from the state treasury to Andhra Pradesh, from where the money was subsequently used for Congress election activities.Speaking at the India Today Karnataka Roundtable, Ashoka said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had already provided clarifications in the case and pointed to the registration of an FIR and the filing of a charge sheet. He alleged that the money involved belonged to Scheduled Caste beneficiaries.Ashoka questioned why the Congress government continued to stand by Nagendra despite the allegations. He specifically asked why Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had removed Nagendra from the Cabinet earlier and why Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar later brought him back into the ministry.“Why did you take him? Why did you let him go? Why did you take him again?” Ashoka said, arguing that the Congress had failed to answer these questions. Ashoka said the BJP would continue its agitation until Nagendra resigned. He argued that a minister facing corruption allegations should not remain in the Cabinet and said the party would not allow the issue to be dropped.“We want a resignation. A corrupt minister should not be in the cabinet,” Ashoka said. He also announced that the BJP would intensify its protest, including a padayatra from Raichur to Ballari and a possible siege of the Chief Minister’s office or residence. Ashoka said the BJP was prepared to continue the agitation in the Assembly and outside it until it secured Nagendra’s resignation.Ashoka said the BJP had deliberately focused on the Nagendra issue instead of taking up several other matters simultaneously. He listed the Bidadi issue, ration-card concerns and the NICE issue but said the party had decided to pursue one issue to its logical conclusion.“This time we have taken a decision, Nagendra must go,” Ashoka said, repeating his allegation that Rs 187 crore had been taken from funds meant for Dalits.He further alleged that the money was used for the Parliament election and claimed that ministers and Congress leaders had distributed the funds. Ashoka said the issue had reached people in villages across Karnataka and that voters were questioning why Shivakumar continued to support Nagendra.Ashoka also claimed that the alleged money trail had reached the Congress high command. He challenged Shivakumar to declare that he would retain Nagendra for another year and said he believed the Congress high command would eventually act against him.The BJP leader rejected the Congress government's argument that Nagendra could continue in office until the allegations resulted in a conviction. Ashoka said the opposition's role was to create public awareness about what he described as a corrupt and ineffective government.He also attacked the Congress government's record on development, citing potholes and garbage in Bengaluru and accusing the government of failing on the Cauvery and Mekedatu issues.- EndsPublished By: Akshat TrivediPublished On: Aug 26, 2026 13:54 IST