Bengaluru, 4 Feb

Excise Minister RB Timmapur on Wednesday said that he would not resign, and termed the Opposition's allegations of corruption a "false and a political conspiracy".

He said he had not done anything wrong and that there was no evidence to support the Opposition’s allegations against him. The Opposition’s charge stems from an alleged Rs 6,000 crore scam in the Excise Department, highlighted by the wine merchant’s association.

"Can we run the government if we resign whenever the Opposition demands it? They ask for everyone’s resignation, even the Chief Minister’s. Should everyone resign? What is the evidence? I will not allow them to defame the government as part of a political conspiracy," Timmapur said.

Speaking to reporters in the City, he said the Opposition was "indulging in wrongdoing, possibly under some pressure."

"Nothing has happened. There is no question of my resigning. I have not done any such wrong thing. There is no evidence for the allegations," he added.

The BJP has also claimed that there exists audio purportedly showing Timmapur’s complicity in the scams.

The Excise Minister hit back: "Have I spoken in the audio? Has any officer spoken? Did I say anything? All these audios and videos are false."

He said that if officials had done anything wrong, they would be held accountable. "I have taken immediate action against such officials and have suspended them," he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the Opposition was raking up the “fake issue” to avoid discussions on the MGNREGA and VB-G RAM G.

"They don’t want MGNREGA to be discussed. That is why they are doing some drama. Apart from drama, there is nothing,” he said. The Congress government had tabled a resolution against the “repeal” of the MGNREGA in the Assembly on Tuesday.

“Allegations cannot be accepted unless proved otherwise.” Home Minister G Parameshwara said, adding that if the BJP provided evidence of the scam, Timmapur would resign. “The Minister himself said (it)”.

IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge echoed Parameshwara’s claim and said that the BJP was playing to the gallery. They have been protesting for nearly 10 days, Kharge said, but “where is the evidence?”