Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan says that he has never intervened in or influenced the police investigation into the solar scam.
Talking to presspersons here on Friday evening after inaugurating the renovated Kollam Press Club building, Mr. Radhakrishnan said it was the prerogative of the investigation team to decide as to who all should be arrested in the case. It is humanly impossible to attend public functions after verifying the background of people participating in it. He had attended the housewarming ceremony of actor Shalu Menon and there was nothing secret about it. ‘‘I had admitted that earlier.’’
On whether he would be shifted from the Home portfolio, Mr. Radhakrishnan said his opinion on such matters was immaterial. Those decisions are taken by the party leadership.
He said the solar scam investigation was progressing in the right direction. As Home Minister “I am informed of only what should be informed of the case.” The police have been given all freedom to conduct a fair probe.
He said no problems had cropped up within his party. Any one trying to create misunderstandings between him and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy would only feel frustrated.
Protests
Meanwhile, the police formed a strong security cordon around the Chinnakada area where the Press Club is located.
The police had received intelligence reports that several opposition youth and women’s organisations were planning to show black flags and stage demonstrations in the area when the Minister arrives.
A couple of persons from among the demonstrators managed to breach the police security cordon and rush forward and wave black flags when the Minister arrived at the Press Club and left. Activists of the DYFI, the AIYF, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the All India Democratic Women’s Association, and the Mahila Sanghom organised separate demonstrations demanding Mr. Radhakrishnan’s resignation.
The Minister who initially arrived at the government rest house was shown black flags by a group of DYFI activists.
The police soon chased them away. Soon afterwards, the police arrested and removed the activists of the women’s organisations present at Chinnakada much before the Minister arrived at the Press Club.
