BANGALORE: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, indicted by the Lokayukta report on illegal mining, today claimed that he had been accused "unfairly" despite his efforts to preserve natural resources in the state.Reading out a statement in front of Raj Bhavan after tendering his resignation, Yeddyurappa said it was his government that unveiled a new mineral policy and banned export of iron ore."Ours is the first state government in the country to take up this revolutionary measure which was upheld by both the Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court," he said."Despite my sincere attempts to preserve the natural resources of the state, I have been accused unfairly. I leave this to the judgement of the enlightened people of the state."Indicting him in the illegal mining scam, the Lokayukta report had called for his prosecution under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.Yeddyurappa said when he took over the reins of the state on May 30, 2008 he had promised to strive for a "strong and vibrant" Karnataka, and while stepping down from chief ministership he has the "satisfaction" of having done his best to realise the promise."I sincerely hope that the new chief minister will take a cue from this and take the state forward," he said.Yeddyurappa highlighted several programmes implemented by his government including the first-ever separate agriculture budget, encouragement to organic farming and the Global Investors Meet, which had attracted an investment of over Rs five lakh crore, creating jobs for over seven lakh youth.He said his government had planned a Global Agri- Investors Meet to attract private investments for the agriculture sector.Making a mention of the novel scheme brought out by his government, wherein monthly pension of Rs 1,000 had been extended to unmarried women over 50 years, Yeddyurappa said he had the "immense satisfaction of working according to the aspirations of the people and utilising the position of power for the public good".Taking an indirect swipe at the Opposition, the chief minister said he had in the last 40 years of his public life travelled every nook and corner of the state to organise and strengthen the party and was instrumental in bringing the first ever BJP government in the South."Despite indiscriminate attacks by the Opposition day in and day out, I have marched forward without getting disillusioned and disheartened," he said.As the central leaders made frantic efforts to break the logjam, Yeddyurappa insisted on Udupi-Chikmagalur MP D V Sadananda Gowda succeeding him. But the stand-off persisted as speculation was rife that his bete-noire National General Secretary H N Ananth Kumar's name was also being considered.Rajnath Singh and Jaitley continued consultations with party top leaders including state unit President K S Eswarappa, Ananth Kumar and legislators to find a successor to Yeddyurappa and ensure a smooth leadership change.Hours before he submitted his resignation, an emotional Yeddyurappa said he is leaving the office "happily" without being hurt and saw it as an opportunity to work "freely" to strengthen the party.His voice choking, Yeddyurappa said at a function that as Chief Minister he felt like his hands and legs had been tied and he had to discharge his duties from Vidhan Soudha, the state secretariat, within "limitations".The BJP Parliamentary Board at its meeting on July 28 asked Yeddyurappa to resign and deputed Rajnath and Jaitely to ensure a smooth leadership transition.Yeddyurappa first said he would resign on July 31 when the inauspicious "Aashada Masa" would end but in the meantime mobilised MLAs to remain in power, a move which put the top BJP leadership in a quandry.Sources in the party said the BJP has accepted Yeddyurappa's condition that his nominee be named as his successor, but not his demand for appointing him as president of the state unit.Rajnath and Jaitley have already held several round of consultations on the Karnataka crisis with top leaders of the state and elicited opinion of all its legislators since yesterday.
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