Yeddyurappa rejects Oppn demand for his resignation

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa today rejected Opposition parties demand for his government's resignation following a complaint of rape made by a woman against H Halappa, who quit as minister on the issue.

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa on Tuesday rejected Opposition parties demand for his government's resignation following a complaint of rape made by a woman against H Halappa, who quit as minister on the issue.

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"They have been demanding my resignation continuously in the last two years. My government will soon enter the third year and they will continue the demand. I will complete my term and BJP will return to power after that," he told reporters here.

Stepping up its attack on the Halappa issue, Congress has been demanding the government's resignation.

Congress had on Monday submitted a memorandum to Governor HR Bhardwaj, demanding a CBI probe into the rape charge against Halappa, who resigned last Sunday in the wake of a media report on the alleged incident last November.

Yeddyurappa has announced a CID probe and a complaint of rape has been registered against Halappa, who is from the chief minister's home district of Shimoga.

The woman, wife of Halappa's friend, has filed a complaint of rape against the former minister, who has however denied the charge, saying it was a conspiracy to defame him.

Asked about the demand by Congress for his resignation over the alleged illegal mining activity by ministers and mining magnates G Janardhana Reddy and his brother Karunakara Reddy, he quipped "they (Opposition) have been asking for my resignation even on that issue also".