Minister Khader Hits Out at Kota Srinivas Poojary over JSW Steel Land-Scam Allegations
Mangaluru: “Kota Srinivas Poojary is a senior political leader. However, he must learn the facts of the case before making accusations; otherwise, he will lose the respect of the people. Recently, I saw a media report that said that the state government has given the land to the industry at a reduced price. This is far from the truth. Till now, the state government has never favored any particular industry”, said District Minister-in-charge U T Khader in a press meet held at Circuit House, Kadri here, on June 4.
Addressing the mediapersons Khader said, “Before this, several industrial companies had signed up for the land, but they had left it and gone. When JSW Steel came and asked for the land, the government at that time had made an agreement based on ‘lease cum sale’. First, they will lease the land to the industry and then sell it entirely. This prevents industries from selling off the land to someone else if they fail to generate profit. When all the conditions are fulfilled under the lease agreement, then only the land is sold to them. Whatever money was paid ten years ago, it was paid to obtain the land under a lease.”
Khader further said, “This is being done for the prosperity of the state, it will give the state a good name, and all the young student population can get employed there. JSW Steel is a reputed company in the international stage. When such a big industry comes here, the state government must extend its cooperation. When the company follows all the guidelines in the policy and if we don’t follow the same guidelines, what signal are we giving to the other industries? Why was the TATA Nano plant given so many freebies in Gujarat? Kota Srinivas Poojary must stop lying. He is an opposition MLA. If there is any truth to his allegations, why doesn’t he raise this in the state assembly?”
In a press meet held on June 2, BJP leader Kota Srinivas Poojary had opposed the state government’s decision to convert the lease agreement and the subsequent sale of the property rights to JSW Steel.