Taking exception to A.H. Vishwanath, who quit as the president of the State unit of the Janata Dal (Secular) on Tuesday, criticising the former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Urban Development Minister U.T. Khader said here on Tuesday that Mr. Vishwanath has no right to comment on Congress leaders.

Dismissing as frivolous the allegation by Mr. Vishwanath that non-cooperation from Mr. Siddaramaiah and other Congress leaders led to the defeat of H.D. Deve Gowda and Nikhil Kumaraswamy, Mr. Khader told reporters that there was good coordination between leaders of the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) during the Lok Sabha election campaign.

“If there is any problem, Mr. Deve Gowda, H.D. Kumaraswamy or the contesting candidates would have raised it. When they have remained silent, who is Mr. Vishwanath to make these allegations,” he said. The Minister said that the Congress is cooperating well with Mr. Kumaraswamy in running the government.

Land sale

Mr. Khader accused Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Kota Srinivas Poojary of not going through facts before criticising the State Cabinet's decision to sell 3,666 acres of land in Sandur in Ballari district to JSW Steel.

The Minister said that the State Government has acted as per its industrial policy in selling the land to JSW Steel. The land was granted to the firm on lease-cum-sale. Following the end of the lease period and the firm fulfilling conditions, including developing the land and providing employment, the State Cabinet decided to sell the land at a rate agreed at the time of grant of lease.

“If we do not act as per the agreement (with the firm), it will send a wrong message. We have to look at (the needs of) industries,” he said. Dues to Mysore Minerals Limited from JSW Steel cannot be linked to this sale. We will stand by Mysore Minerals as far as recovery of dues is concerned,” Mr. Khader said.