Opposition stalls Karnataka Assembly over Minister Nagendra’s Valmiki scam role

Karnataka Assembly proceedings were disrupted on August 17 as the BJP and JD(S) demanded Minister B. Nagendra's dismissal over his alleged involvement in the multi-crore Valmiki Corporation embezzlement case. Leader of Opposition R. Ashok declared the opposition would not allow the House to function until Nagendra was removed, questioning why he was inducted into the Cabinet on August 3 after resigning from the previous Siddaramaiah Cabinet in June 2024 over the same allegations.

Congress minister Krishna Byre Gowda countered that the opposition was wasting time without prior notice to the Speaker. Nagendra, who holds Planning and Statistics, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in July 2024 and granted bail in October. Both the ED and the CBI have named him in their chargesheets. The Speaker adjourned the House at 1 pm as protests continued.