Karnataka: Yogeshwar rules out resignation

BANGALORE: Dismissing as 'political vendetta' charges of his alleged involvement in 'Mega City' housing project scam, Karnataka Forest Minister C P Yogeshwar today ruled out his resignation and asserted he has not committed any offence."There is a sustained campaign of political vendetta against me. I will not resign. I have already met the Governor and explained my position. I have no role to play in the Mega City project", he told reporters here.Opposition Congress and JDS have been seeking his ouster from the ministry following allegations that he had cheated investors of 'Mega City' project.On Saturday, a Congress delegation submitted a memorandum to Governor H R Bhardwaj seeking a direction to Chief Minister D V Sadanadna Gowda to remove Yogeshwar from the ministry.Yogeshwar said then chief minister H D Kumaraswamy had referred the issue to Corps of Detectives probe, an action he termed as "political vendetta".He said he had received complaints about illegal mining of granite in Kanakapura and Chamarajnagar districts, including one alleging the involvement of former minister and Congress leader D K Shivakumar in illegal granite mining.After he began to act on the complaints, Shivakumar prompted a delegation of his party leaders to call on Governor H R Bhardwaj to demand his resignation, he alleged.Yogeshwar said he was contemplating to refer the issue of illegal granite mining to Lokayukta probe on the lines of the one entrusted to it over illegal mining of iron ore.He said he would discuss the matter with the Chief Minister and officials of the Forest Department before deciding on the Lokayukta probe.