Bengaluru, Aug 29 (IANS) The Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will undertake a protest march through nine Assembly constituencies from September 1 to September 10, former minister and BJP leader B. Sriramulu said on Saturday, as he unveiled the logo for the padayatra at the party’s state office, Jagannath Bhavan, in Bengaluru.
The march, which will begin with a massive public meeting at Lingasugur on September 1, will culminate in Ballari on September 10.
Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and H.D. Kumaraswamy, Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and several other party leaders are expected to participate in the inaugural programme, Sriramulu said.
The padayatra will pass through nine Assembly constituencies: Lingasugur, Maski, Sindhanur, Karatagi, Gangavathi, Kampli, Sandur, Ballari Rural and Ballari City.
Sriramulu said the BJP had fought in the Assembly and outside it for the resignation of former minister B. Nagendra over the alleged Valmiki Corporation scam and thanked Vijayendra, opposition leaders and legislators for raising the issue.
He said Nagendra had resigned twice over the same issue, calling it unusual. He claimed that the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had acknowledged that irregularities had taken place in the Valmiki Corporation.
Sriramulu alleged that Rs 87 crore had been transferred and claimed that funds from the corporation had been misused during the Lok Sabha elections to defeat the BJP in different districts.
He also targeted Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, saying he could have defended Nagendra but chose not to do so. He alleged that the Chief Minister had concluded that Nagendra should resign amid pressure from the Opposition.
Reacting to Nagendra’s emotional remarks while resigning, Sriramulu said the BJP was not responsible for his tears and accused the Congress of being responsible for the situation. He said the BJP had raised the issue not for political gain but in the interest of the future of children from the Scheduled Tribe community.
Sriramulu further accused Nagendra of hypocrisy for calling BJP leaders “Manuvadis” while recalling that BJP leaders, including Janardhana Reddy, had supported him when he won the 2013 election.
He also referred to the death of tribal welfare corporation official Chandrashekhar, alleging that the official had died by suicide after facing threats and harassment in connection with the case. He accused Nagendra and the Congress of failing to stand by the deceased official’s family.
Sriramulu launched a broader attack on the Congress, accusing the party of exploiting Dalits for political purposes and alleging that it had failed the community on reservation and other issues. He also alleged that the government had misused funds meant for the Scheduled Caste Sub‑Plan and Tribal Sub‑Plan.
He said the curse of the tears of Dalits would affect the Congress in the coming days and claimed that the party would be wiped out.
Sriramulu alleged that Nagendra had been made a minister after allegedly giving “suitcases” and claimed that the “validity” of the arrangement had now expired. He also questioned the removal of Dalit leader K.N. Rajanna from the Cabinet and asked why Nagendra was shedding “crocodile tears” over Dalits now.
He further criticised Shivakumar’s description of Nagendra as an “asset of the Congress”, alleging that Nagendra had effectively pledged public money to the Congress.
Sriramulu said Nagendra had gone home today and added that in the next election, the entire Congress party would go home, claiming that the BJP would make that happen.
He also challenged Nagendra to contest the 2028 Assembly election against him, wherever Nagendra chose to contest, and said the entire government should be dismissed and elections held across the state.
–IANS
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