BJP leaders detained during Vidhana Soudha march

Karnataka BJP leaders, including state president B Y Vijayendra and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka, were taken into preventive custody on Monday while marching towards Vidhana Soudha to demand the removal of Minister B Nagendra from the state cabinet over his alleged involvement in the Valmiki Corporation scam, according to multiple reports.

The BJP and its ally JD(S) had mobilised a large number of workers for the protest, with supporters arriving from different parts of Bengaluru and nearby areas. Police barricaded Vidhana Soudha and deployed personnel at its gates to prevent protesters from entering the premises.

Protesters, led by BJP leaders including MLCs N Ravikumar and C T Ravi, attempted to move towards Vidhana Soudha through the Vikas Soudha gate, leading to pushing and jostling with police. Several protesters were detained, and a BMTC bus was kept ready to transport those taken into custody. A separate protest at Freedom Park was held under the leadership of Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, with party leaders raising slogans against the Congress government.

Political accusations and counter-protests

Addressing the protesters, Vijayendra accused the Congress government of trying to suppress the BJP's agitation and hit back at chief minister D K Shivakumar, who had described protesters as "goondas". According to ANI, Vijayendra called Shivakumar the "biggest goonda" and said the Congress government's "cup of sins is overflowing". He said the BJP and JD(S) were fighting as the voice of Dalits and those without a voice.

In response, Karnataka Congress workers staged a counter-protest, alleging that the BJP was involved in corruption. Congress workers wore face masks of prominent Karnataka BJP and JD(S) leaders. Congress District (Bangalore West) Vice President Kushal Abhay Gowda told ANI that the BJP was filled with corruption and corrupt leaders, pointing to four chief ministers facing corruption charges. A Congress worker described BJP leaders as "donation box thieves" and the "patriarchs of corruption".

Background of the Valmiki Corporation scam

The protest centres on the alleged scam in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Corporation Ltd. The BJP has maintained that Nagendra, who resigned as minister in 2024 following alleged irregularities in the corporation, should not have been re-inducted into the cabinet. Nagendra was re-inducted after D K Shivakumar became chief minister.

The alleged scam came to light after funds belonging to the corporation were allegedly transferred to various bank accounts. The matter gained wider attention following the suicide of the corporation's accounts superintendent, P Chandrasekharan, and the recovery of a note, as reported by Hindustan Times and ThePrint.

The CBI subsequently investigated the case and filed a charge sheet in which Nagendra's name was mentioned. The BJP has cited the charge sheet and a communication from the CBI to the Governor to demand his removal from the cabinet. Reports also indicate that the CBI has sought sanction for prosecution of Nagendra from Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot.

BJP's demands and future plans

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka demanded Nagendra's resignation, saying, "If he has any dignity and honour, he should come and resign." He also alleged that Rs 187 crore belonging to the Valmiki Corporation was looted to finance Congress election campaigns, though this claim is carried by a single outlet.

BJP MLC N Ravikumar alleged that the investigation revealed Rs 20 crore was spent for the Lok Sabha election and Rs 180 crore on people's elections, according to reports.

The BJP has announced it will continue its agitation until Nagendra is removed from the cabinet and plans to protest inside the Assembly when the session resumes. Ashoka asserted that the BJP would not yield to any compromise tactics by the government.

Security and disruption

The protest led to heightened security and traffic disruptions around Vidhana Soudha and Vikasa Soudha, with police stepping up presence at key entry points including Kengal Gate, High Court Gate and Vikasa Soudha Gate. At the Vikasa Soudha entrance, heated arguments broke out when protesters tried to move past the security cordon, leading to several detentions, with some shifted to High Grounds police station, as reported by The Times of India.

The BJP has been staging protests in the legislature since the start of the session, demanding Nagendra's resignation and refusing to accept answers from the government on the issue, according to ANI.