Kerala government's assurance on solar scam probe

While the Left opposition is unhappy over the terms of reference of the judicial probe into the solar scam, the Kerala government said Thursday that every aspect that was raised within and outside the assembly would be included.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters here: "Why do you have a doubt in that if my office and I would be included in the judicial probe? Were you not there in the assembly when the opposition had raised the solar scam? Each and everything that they have raised inside and outside the assembly into the scam would be covered."

He shared the six points which would form the terms of reference in the judicial probe.

"The government has nothing to hide and all the issues in this scam right from 2006 would be covered. We are quite clear because what we want is the truth to come out. We have again requested the Kerala High Court to provide a sitting judge and we are expecting to hear from them in the coming week," said Chandy.

The scam revolved around allegedly fraudulent deals of a woman and her partner on the pretext of supplying solar energy solutions at huge discounts.

While one member of Chandy's personal staff was arrested in the case - he was released on bail last week - two others lost their jobs.

Police have so far filed 33 cases against the woman and her associate.

"This is a ploy by the chief minister because there has been no direct mention if the terms of reference would include the office of Chandy and the chief minister himself. This is not fair because our main demand was that," said Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.