ANKARA - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy Cemal Kaya said on Tuesday that he didn't resign from his party, but from deputyship and that he would continue to carry his AK Party membership with honor.
Holding a news conference in the parliament, Kaya said that he resigned from deputyship in order to defend himself better and to prove his innocence before the court.
Calling all deputies for support and asking them to accept his resignation, Kaya said that he didn't meet the Prime Minister about his resignation. ''This issue concerns the parliament and I submitted my resignation to the parliament,'' he said.
Denouncing the news stories accusing him of getting involved in corruption within the scope of the investigation launched into the Ministry of Energy, Kaya said that he was not involved in corruption in any part of his business life and political career.
Kaya also criticized the attitude of opposition party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal who had earlier accused of him resigning from CHP and joining AKP in order to earn unfair and illegal benefits in a bid, calling Baykal to make public such evidence (if he has) proving that he was involved in corruption.