I am going to continue for another two years as Karnataka chief minister, says Yeddyurappa

Bangalore, July 25 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who has been implicated in the illegal mining scam, on Monday said he would continue to lead the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government in the state for the next two years.

"I am going to continue for another two years as Chief Minister, afterwards we are going to face the elections. In another 15-20 years, we want to build up our organisation and we are going to comeback to power even after these elections," he said.

Returning to the country after holidaying in Mauritius amidst the rampant corruption charges, Yeddyurappa said Hegde (Lokayukta Justice (retired) Santosh Hegde) is yet to officially hand over the report to the government, and added that he would comment on the report only after he receives it.

Expressing disappointment over the allegations of phone tapping, he said that he would request the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, to set up an inquiry committee to look into the matter.

"Entire Bharatiya Janata Party is one, we are together and all our all leadership is also with us. And only Deve Gowda, Kumarswamy and H. D. Revanna are worried because if have continued for three years and with two years remaining, they will be nowhere. Day-by-day, they are losing their vote banks. That is why they are very much worried," he said.

Yeddyurappa is expected to hold a press conference at 4.30 p.m. today.

The Lokayukta had earlier reported that he was being pressurised by a minister and an official representative of the state based in New Delhi to drop charges against Yeddyurappa.

The Lokayukta conducted inquiry into the cases of illegal mining and distribution of government land.

In his report, Justice Hegde is reported to have mentioned that Yeddyurappa was indirectly involved in an illegal mining scam and his close family members were directly involved in it.

Justice Hedge termed the scam of illegal mining as huge and added that, within a span of 14 months, scam to the tune of rupees 1800 crores has already taken place in the state.

Hegde, who is also the former judge of Supreme Court, submitted his report to the Chief Secretary on Friday. (ANI)