Bengaluru: Home Minister K J George on Thursday strongly defended the Cabinet decision to withdraw cases filed against individuals for their alleged role in communal violence in Mysuru, Shivamogga and Hassan districts.
He also refuted the Opposition’s charges that the government went ahead with the decision against the advise of the Law and Home Departments. “The decision was taken based on the recommendations of a Cabinet sub-committee,” he said.

Denying that the decision was to placate a particular community, he said, “The beneficiaries of the decision are innocent and belong to all communities. We have not withdrawn the cases filed against those who are facing charges of murder or other heinous crimes,” he said.

The Cabinet on Monday decided to withdraw 175 cases filed against 100 people belonging to various forums, including the  Karnataka Forum for Dignity and the Popular Front of India, for their alleged role in communal violence in Mysuru, Shivamogga and Hassan when the BJP was in power.