Solar scam: Chandy remains defiant, says truth will emerge soon

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who has been facing accusations from the opposition of involvement in corruption, Wednesday denied that he was in any way involved in the "solar scam".

"I have nothing to fear. I have done no wrong. My strength is the confidence that I have because I am a strong believer in God. Above all, I know that if I do wrong, I will have to pay the price for it," Chandy told reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting here, exuding confidence that the truth would exonerate him.

Ever since it was revealed in the media that members of the chief minister's personal staff had been in close contact with a couple arrested for fraud in the "solar scam", aspersions have been made against the chief minister that he too was involved.

The couple - Saritha Nair and her partner Biju Radhakrishnan - were arrested last month on complaints from several people that they were promised installation of solar panels at different locations at subsidised rates but no such service was provided even after large sums were invested.

A prominent Malayalam TV actress, Shalu Menon, has also been arrested in the case.

One member of Chandy's staff too, with whom Saritha Nair was in close touch, has been arrested in the case. Two other members of the chief minister's personal staff were sacked once the scam surfaced, and their links with the couple were made public.

The Left opposition has been demanding a judicial probe in the matter, and claiming that Chandy should quit to enable a fair probe.

"If I quit now, it would be an injustice. The truth will come out soon. The opposition is not interested in the truth. They know the muck first emerged while they were in office, and not even a criminal case was registered then. But we will let the people of Kerala know what exactly has happened," Chandy said.

He slammed the Left opposition for calling a statewide shutdown Wednesday on this subject.

"Two years back, when I assumed office, they (the Left) said that this government, which has just a two-seat majority, will not go the distance, and would fall. Things started to change when we won two by-elections. Later they realised that the people of the state have absolute faith in this government. That is why they are now restless and fear this government," Chandy said.

"If they (the opposition) were serious, they should have raised the matter on the floor of the assembly, to corner us. Since they know what this is about, they aim only to confuse," Chandy said, speaking at length on the matter with reporters.

"I request you (media) to give a correct perspective, as numerous allegations levelled by the opposition have been properly countered by me. I also say to the opposition that if they are not happy when the final police report comes out, we are prepared to lend them our ears to find out what they have to say," Chandy said.