Nagendra issue: Karnataka CM DKS invites Oppn for debate

BENGALURU: Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday appealed to the Opposition in the Council to serve notice and participate in a discussion before protesting in the House demanding removal of Statistics and Planning Minister B Nagendra from the Cabinet for his alleged.

Key points

• Why should I resign, asks Minister Nagendra Leader of Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy objected to it, saying the Opposition had no personal enmity against Nagendra.
• Addressing the agitating Opposition members, Shivakumar remarked everyone has the right to protest in a democracy and that the State Administration had no objection to it.
• Assuring the Opposition that the administration would respond to the allegations, Shivakumar stated he could explain why he had inducted Nagendra into his Cabinet.
• Questioning the Opposition, Shivakumar asked what evidence or information it had against Nagendra.
• At the start of the proceedings, Opposition members raised slogans against the State Administration and Nagendra.

Addressing the agitating Opposition members, Shivakumar remarked everyone has the right to protest in a democracy and that the State Administration had no objection to it. "However, give a notice to the Chairman, hold a discussion on Nagendra and place the matter before the people", Shivakumar remarked. "You (opposition) are not serving any notice. You are not coming into the well of the House and protesting. You are not discussing, " Shivakumar remarked.

Questioning the Opposition, Shivakumar asked what evidence or information it had against Nagendra. "Why should Nagendra resign? What have you unearthed? Let the House and the individuals know what the CBI, ED, SIT have identified, " Shivakumar noted.

Assuring the Opposition that the administration would respond to the allegations, Shivakumar stated he could explain why he had inducted Nagendra into his Cabinet. He remarked it was not reasonable to call Nagendra corrupt, allege that capital has gone to LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and term his administration corrupt without even holding a discussion.

Shivakumar remarked he could additionally name Union Ministers and former ministers against whom cases had been registered, but would refrain from doing so as it would upset the Opposition.

Why should I resign, asks Minister Nagendra Leader of Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy objected to it, saying the Opposition had no personal enmity against Nagendra. He remarked Nagendra is out on bail and the court had not acquitted him of the allegations against him. He remarked there are other leaders from the Valmiki community who could replace Nagendra, and that the Opposition was ready for a discussion after this removal.

At the start of the proceedings, Opposition members raised slogans against the State Administration and Nagendra. Despite Chairman Saleem Ahmed's appeal to cooperate in running the House, the Opposition continued its protest.

Earlier, Narayanaswamy pressed the CM to book Minister Vijayanand Kashappanavar under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, alleging that he employed objectionable words against the Dalit community while criticising PM Modi.

In short, nagendra issue: Karnataka CM DKS invites Oppn for debate is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.