New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has sharply criticized Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for demanding her resignation over the alleged Maharishi Valmiki Corporation Board scam in the state. Sitharaman questioned why Siddaramaiah had not taken action against the bank officials involved in the scandal.

During a post-budget press conference in Bengaluru on Sunday, Sitharaman remarked, "Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah can say this because he is quite used to speaking like that. That is not responsible." She emphasized that initial action had already been taken against the conniving bank officials, and further legal measures would follow. Sitharaman added, "Here is a minister who had to resign under his oversight. This has happened. Attempt to deny, an attempt to shift blame, an attempt to say there is no scandal happening."

Highlighting the impact on the Valmiki community, Sitharaman stated, "The Valmiki community's money was taken away. Is there no sense of outrage? They (Congress) talk about 'Nyay' during election campaigns. Is this Nyay for the SCs and STs?"

Addressing Siddaramaiah directly, she questioned his handling of the situation, "I want the media to ask them how come you, who has the authority over the accounts, didn't stop the banks. If only they had taken the bank officials to the police station and held them accountable, then that would have given the right to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to accuse the central government, accuse me and ask me to resign."

Sitharaman also criticized Siddaramaiah for downplaying the scale of the scam, "Additionally, with the money that has gone to a private account, you (Siddaramaiah) go to the assembly and say that it was not Rs 180 crore but only some Rs 84 crore. You are conceding, sir, that this is the kind of outrageous thing happening, particularly on the SCs and STs."

Sitharaman asserted that action had been taken against the bank staff and that further legal action and prosecution would follow. She challenged Siddaramaiah's response to the matter, stating, "I have taken action against the accused officials and I want them to be punished for the connivance which they showed with the state government officials. I want to ask in return what the Karnataka chief minister's action was on the matter."

The Karnataka Legislative Assembly recently witnessed protests by the opposition BJP and JD(S), demanding Siddaramaiah's resignation over the alleged financial irregularities in a state-run corporation. Amid the opposition's continued sloganeering, Siddaramaiah defended himself and his government, accusing the opposition of corruption and listing out alleged scams during their tenure.

The scam involves the illegal transfer of funds from the Maharshi Valmiki ST Corporation, which is responsible for welfare programs for scheduled tribe members. The issue came to light after an official of the corporation, Chandrasekaran, died by suicide, leaving a note alleging multi-crore corruption within the corporation. The note named three officials and demanded action against them.

Former Karnataka Minister B Nagendra, who is linked to the case, resigned amid the investigation, maintaining his innocence and expressing confidence that he would be cleared of all allegations.

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