Karnataka Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, on Saturday, said he would send Minister for Planning and Statistics B. Nagendra’s resignation letter to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, after the minister resigned from the Cabinet amid a political controversy surrounding the alleged Maharishi Valmiki Corporation scam. Addressing media in Mysuru, CM Shivakumar said Nagendra an assessMent had voluntarily tendered his resignation to prevent embarrassment to the Congress party and accused the BJP and JD(S) of focussing on politics instead of issues concerning the state and its people. “The man has come and voluntarily submitted his resignation to avoid embarrassment to the party. I am sending the resignation letter to the Governor today,” CM Shivakumar said. Reacting to the BJP and JD(S) moving ahead with a protest march, Shivakumar stated that the Opposition was more interested in politics than in addressing issues such as drought and the Cauvery water dispute. “For them, politics is important. Drought and the lives of people are not important. They are not concerned about the welfare of the state. They do not want to discuss the Cauvery issue or how we are managing the drought,” he said. Shivakumar said he had asked the Opposition to submit a notice and come forward for a discussion in the Assembly, but alleged that they had instead focussed on the resignation of Nagendra. “I asked them to give a notice and come for a discussion. They only focussed on taking the sacrifice of an innocent person,” he said. Taking a swipe at the BJP and JD(S), he alleged that the Opposition was unable to accept Shivakumar becoming Chief Minister. “What they want is politics. They are not able to tolerate that I have become the Chief Minister. The whole NDA is not able to digest this fact. Let good happen to them,” he said. Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and former minister B. Sriramulu alleged the BJP was not responsible for Nagendra’s emotional distress and blamed the Congress party for his resignation. “We are not responsible for the tears of Minister Nagendra. The Congress party is responsible for your tears. BJP leaders are not responsible for your tears. The Congress is the root cause of your suffering,” Sriramulu claimed.
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