Bengaluru: The controversial decision of the cabinet to approve a proposal to register land already allotted to JSW Steels, Toranagal, Ballari, was neither hurried through nor taken under pressure, but cleared after following the due process, according to official sources.
The government, however, stepped in to counter a campaign launched by the opposition including protests against the decision of the cabinet.
Sources said Chief Minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy, was not involved in the entire process. “The file came to the cabinet department. Then, chief secretary T.M. Vijay Bhaskar went through the file, discussed the issues with senior bureaucrats before listing the subject for approval by the cabinet. In the cabinet, too, Mr Kumaraswamy did not initiate the discussion.”
Sources said that it was major industries minister K.J. George, who spoke about the issue at the cabinet meeting and sought approval to the proposal.
The government neither subverted any procedure nor came under pressure to clear the proposal, sources added.
Former minister and senior Congress leader H K Patil embarrassed the coalition government, opposing the decision of the cabinet to approve land to JSW.
Later, he explained his stand to Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundurao and was scheduled to meet Mr Kumaraswamy and Mr George on Sunday.
The Chief Minister, however, called off the meeting with sources pointing out that he asked Mr George to take a call on allocation of land to JSW.
