Naveen says no law broken on Vedanta univ,HC may have erred

With the Opposition stalling the House for the past two days demanding his scalp and a thorough discussion on the Vedanta University land deal,Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday claimed there was no violation of law during land acquisition for the proposed project in Puri district.

The period of challenging the order of the High Court has not yet expired. The Advocate General has been requested to advise the government on the subject,after which appropriate steps will be taken in accordance with the law, he said in a statement on an adjournment motion moved by Congress chief whip Prasad Harichandan. Harichandan demanded that Naveen should resign and criminal prosecution be started against the officers responsible for the fraud.

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Naveen said the land acquisition process began after receipt of intimation from Anil Agarwal Foundation about the change of its status from a private to a public limited company.

Naveen added that the HC may have committed an error in the judgment by saying the state government promulgated an ordinance for establishing the Vedanta University. The reference to the ordinance is baffling and is an error apparent on the face of record. The fact is that no ordinance has ever been promulgated by the government for establishment of the proposed university, he added.