Karnataka CM Yeddyurappa rules out resigning over land scam issue

Hubli (Karnataka)/ New Delhi, Nov 21 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Sunday ruled out the possibility of resigning from office over the land scam issue, asserting that he had done nothing wrong.

"Why should I (resign)? There is no offence from my side. I have not committed any mistake," he told reporters here before leaving for New Delhi.

"I am going to stay and so will my government. There is no question of me resigning from my post because I have done nothing wrong. I will go to Delhi to prove my innocence to the party high command," he added

"The Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) is hatching a conspiracy to destablise my government. The opposition have tried doing the same in the past as well. However, I will not succumb to these tactics and will not quit as the chief minister," he said.

Meanwhile, in New Delhi, BJP senior leader L.K. Advani and party President Nitin Gadkari are holding a one-on-one closed door meeting to decide Yeddyurappa's fate.

The emergency BJP Core group meeting comes in the wake of a new expose by former Karnataka Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy.

Hurling a fresh charge against Yeddyurappa, Kumaraswamy alleged that his family had sold Rs 20 crore worth of land and raised doubts about its ownership.

He also expressed doubt on whether the land sold by Yeddyurappa's kin was owned by them or was it denotified in their favour. He sought clarifications from them.

"Is the land their hereditary property? Let them prove it", Kumaraswamy said asking the BJP high command "does it have guts to sack Yeddyurappa?

Hitting out at Yeddyurappa for his statements that he would decimate JD (S), Kumaraswamy said: "Nobody can destroy our party. It is the people who have that power". (ANI)