Nagendra accuses Janardhana Reddy of misleading Assembly over Ballari violence

Bengaluru: The Ballari violence once again echoed in the state Assembly on Friday after former minister and Congress MLA B Nagendra accused Gangavathi MLA G Janardhana Reddy of “misleading” the House with “incorrect” statements attributed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

Referring to Reddy’s statements made during the debate on the Governor’s address the previous day, Nagendra contended that the CM never said putting up banners was wrong.

Clarifying remarks attributed to Shivakumar on security cover, Nagendra said, “The deputy chief minister only stated that Z-category security can be granted only by the Centre. He never made the comments being circulated.”

‘Protection issue’

Reddy had alleged that Shivakumar had suggested that he should seek protection in Iran or the US or deploy BJP party workers for his protection.

Responding to Reddy’s charge that Ballari had turned into a “republic,” Nagendra rejected the allegation and said repeated claims were being made “to turn a lie into truth.”

Reddy countered Nagendra’s statement that ST leader B Sriramulu had threatened to “track down Bharat Reddy once the BJP came to power by saying, “Sriramulu never said that. He only said that the Congress government had arrested only the private gunman and not MLA Bharat Reddy following the Congress worker’s death in the firing. Sriramulu had said Bharat Reddy would be arrested and brought to
justice when BJP comes to power.”

“Congress has stolen Valmiki corporation funds and how much ever you (Nagendra) try, you will never be a taller ST leader than Sriramulu even after many lives,” Reddy taunted.