Chandy challenges Opposition to prove charges against him

Unfazed by allegations against him in the solar scam, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today challenged opposition parties to prove the charges against him and said he will quit public life "if there is one per cent truth" in the allegations.
"Truth will come out. People of the state will know what really happened," he told reporters here after a cabinet meeting.
"I will quit public life, if there is one per cent truth in the allegations," he said.
Terming as 'undemocratic' the CPI(M)-led LDF's move to attack the government in the Assembly over the allegations, Chandy said, "Opposition has become nervous due to the popularity of the five-year rule of the UDF and there is no threat to the government."

Hitting out at the LDF for taking up charges levelled by Saritha S Nair, prime accused in the solar case, Chandy said, "Those who go after the charges made by a person with no credibility will only disgrace themselves."
Chandy said the government would soon take a decision on conducting a probe into the conspiracy behind the charges levelled by the solar accused against him and others.

Saritha, deposing before the Justice Sivarajan Commission, had alleged that bribe of Rs 1.90 crore had been paid to a close aide of Chandy and Rs 40 lakh to Power Minister Arayadan Mohammed for helping her 'Team Solar Company'. Both have denied the allegations.

Chandy maintained that the state has not incurred even a rupee's loss due to the scam and that no undue concession had been given to the Team solar company. Government took all legal steps to bring before law the culprits behind the fraud after it came to light, he asserted.
Chandy also flayed CPI(M) on the attack on former diplomat and state higher education council vice-chairman T P Sreenivasan by activists of that party's students wing SFI, and said, "CPI(M) will have to pay heavy price for that."
On the charge that two Congress leaders Benny Behanan, MLA, and Thampanoor Ravi, both CM's confidants, had tried to influence Saritha, Chandy said, "The matter is before the Commission. Let it take a decision. Not only that, both leaders have reacted to the charge of Saritha."

Meanwhile, LDF leaders met Governor Justice P Sathasivam
and urged him not to deliver the customary policy address of the government in the House in the wake of solar and bar bribery scams rocking the government.
In a memorandum submitted to the Governor, LDF said, "We painfully submit that this state has never in the past passed through such deplorable situation of legal and moral breakdown."
Talking to reporters after meeting the Governor, Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan said they asked the Governor not to deliver the policy address.
The session commences on February 5.