Striking a belligerent posture, Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Saturday ruled out stepping down following sanction for his prosecution by governor H.R. Bhardwaj, whom he dubbed as "a political agent of the UPA" trying to destabilise the BJP government.
"Why should I," he shot back at a press conference here when asked if he would resign in the wake of governor's decision.
"If somebody gives a complaint (against a chief minister) in India. Has anybody resigned. Why should I," he retorted.
Hitting back at Mr Bhardwaj, the chief minister asserted that he would prove his innocence "100 per cent" and dismissed as "unconstitutional and malafide" the governor's decision to sanction his prosecution on allegations of land scam and corruption.
Mr Yeddyurappa described the governor as a political agent of the UPA and alleged that his mission appeared to be to destabilise the BJP government.
He also alleged that the governor took the decision in collusion with opposition Congress and JD-S.
Seeking to invoke the pride of Karnataka, Mr Yeddyurappa accused Mr Bhardwaj of having hurt the sentiments of the people of the state by his remarks against his government.
"By calling the chief minister of the state 'a thief complaining against the police', the governor has hurt the sentiments of the people and the pride of Karnataka," he said, adding the people have given vent to their pent-up feelings against him by observing a bandh on Saturday.
Mr Yeddyurappa said his growing popularity, rapid progress of the state, development programmes, along with good law and order situation and financial position "appears to be troubling" the governor.
The chief minister asserted that he would meet the challenge thrown up by the sanction of his prosecution "politically and legally".
He said the complaint petitions filed by the two advocates (based on which the governor gave his sanction) has "not made out a clear-cut case."
"The governor neither bothered to give me a copy of the complainant's petitions nor an opportunity to explain my point of view," he rued.