Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said the United Democratic Front (UDF) government has an open mind on the terms of reference for the judicial probe ordered into the solar panel scam, provided the Opposition comes forward with its suggestion.
“We have nothing to hide,” he said here on Tuesday.
The government will consider and take appropriate measures on the suggestions of the Opposition, said the Chief Minister, who was here on a two-day visit.
Mr. Chandy told journalists that the question of bringing the Chief Minister’s Office within the purview of the judicial probe would be considered only if the Left Democratic Front convincingly established its case for the subject.
“We have written to the Opposition seeking its suggestions on the terms of reference. Now they are saying that they are not ready for discussion. If they are sincere, they should cooperate with the government,” he said. Even if the Opposition is not ready to discuss the terms of reference, the government will consider its demand, he said.
On his meeting with Union Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies K.V. Thomas, Mr. Chandy said the former had assured him that the quantity of foodgrains being supplied from the Central pool to Kerala for the public distribution system (PDS) would be protected even after the implementation of the National Food Security Bill.
The Kerala government has been asking the Centre to ensure continuation of supply of 18 lakh tonnes of rice at Rs.8.90 a kg, being supplied to the State by the Centre for consumers in the above the poverty line (APL) category.
The Chief Minister met Union Minister for Human Resource Development M.M. Pallam Raju and urged him to speed up the process for setting up an Indian Institute of Technology in Palakkad. Mr. Raju assured the Chief Minister that the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) would be elevated to the level of Indian Institute of Engineering, Science and Technology.
On his meeting with Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, Mr. Chandy reiterated the long-pending demand of Kerala for a separate railway zone. He wanted the Minister to speed up various railway projects, including those related to development of Sabarimala.
