Kumaraswamy rejects demand for his resignation

Belgaum, Sep 27 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today rejected in the Assembly the Opposition Congress' demand for his resignation over the alleged Rs 800 crore forest scam, involving an IPS officer.

Reacting sharply to a report in a private news channel based on which the Congress sought to move an adjournment motion under Rule 60, he maintained that he need not submit his resignation over ''baseless charges hurled against him by fabricating things'' and appealed to the Chair to reject the motion.

''For the last three months, I am being targeted by some vested interests to tarnish the image of the coalition Government and my family. I am aware of it and will not succumb to those forces,'' Mr Kumaraswamy said.

On the forest scam, the Chief Minister termed the news clipping in a private TV channel as a ''figment of imagination'' and claimed that his name was not mentioned. He assured the Opposition members that an inquiry would be conducted into it if they provided any document to substantiate their charge.

Referring to the bribery charges hurled against him by some Council members, he challenged them as also the Congress members to appear before the judicial commission, constituted to deal with the Bellary illegal mining issue.

Earlier, Leader of Opposition N Dharam Singh demanded Speaker Krishna to take up the adjournment motion notice given by them as the scam was of serious nature and warranted a discussion.

Congress members Mallikarjuna Kharge, Ramesh Kumar and R V Deshpande also demanded the chair to take up the adjournment motion, prompting the BJP and JD(S) members of the Northern Karnataka region to rush to the well of the House.

The Speaker tried to pacify the agitating members, saying the Opposition members had the right to raise any issue and appealed to them to cooperate with him in conducting the business of the House smoothly.

UNI MV GD SAM GC1745