THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Facing heat over the solar scam report which was tabled in the Kerala Assembly today, the Congress-led UDF tried to raise the encroachment allegations against Transport minister Thomas Chandy, in an attempt to embarrass the government in the House.
The opposition tried to seek notice for an adjournment motion over the allegations against the minister during the one-day session called for tabling of the report.
However, Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan rejected their request stating that the special session was convened, taking into account the request of the opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala also to get the panel report tabled.
Chennithala also tried to interrupt the speech of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stating that he had violated the rules of the House by briefing media on the Commission report before tabling it in the assembly.
"This government cannot save Thomas Chandy even if they try to do so. Chief Minister is talking about equal justice. But, there are two rules and justice for Chandy and general public," he said.
He was referring to the oral observation made by the Kerala High Court which had asked whether any special consideration was being given to the minister.
The court made the statement while considering a PIL seeking registration of an FIR against Chandy, whose company had allegedly violated rules to construct a road through paddy fields to a lake resort owned by him in Alappuzha district.
Lashing out at the government, Chennithala also said the government could not 'silence' the opposition using the solar report.
"We know how to fight legally and politically if sexual allegations are levelled against a leader like Oommen Chandy who has been a member of the House for 50 years," he said.
Quick to react, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said he did not mention the names of anybody who had been referred in the report.
"I have not named anyone...but opposition leader did... I showed dignity by not letting out any names," he said.
The chief minister also rejected charges of violation of the rules of the House.
The opposition leader also wondered why the government had sent an official to the house of Justice G Sivarajan after the report was submitted.
Chennithala took a day off from the ongoing state-wide march, led by him, to attend the special session.
The march, titled "Padayorukkam" to highlight the "anti-people" policies of the central and state governments would conclude here on December 1.