India, Aug. 29 -- Senior BJP leader and Karnataka Assembly Leader of Opposition R Ashoka on Saturday, August 29, accused the Congress government in Karnataka of invoking 'Dalit identity' to defend former minister B Nagendra, who resigned amid allegations linked to the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation scam.

Nagendra resigned on Friday, August 28, after sustained protests by the BJP and JD(S), which had demanded his removal from the state Cabinet over the alleged diversion of around Rs 89 crore from the corporation.

Ashoka alleged that Nagendra resigned only after the Opposition presented documentary evidence concerning the case. He said the government had also failed to provide justice to P Chandrashekharan, the ...