The ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala on Tuesday went on the offensive on the raging solar panel fraud case.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan criticised the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government over its “ineffectiveness” in tracking various cases in which the solar panel fraudsters were involved. The focus on the controversy has now tilted from Sarita S Nair to Biju Radhakrishnan, the prime suspect in the solar panel fraud case, who was arrested in Coimbatore on Monday.
Chandy told reporters that many cases were filed against Biju during the LDF government’s tenure. But the LDF government had failed to pursue the cases.
When questioned if the lack of stringent screening at his office had led to a situation where anyone could walk in and meet him, Chandy said he, despite pressure to ensure exclusivity in his meetings, was still unsure about preventing people from meeting him.
Radhakrishnan said complaints against Biju on different counts had been passed on to the previous LDF government, including the then home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, but there was limited action on the complaints. The arrest of Biju in Coimbatore on Monday proves that the investigation is on course and the government is not providing cover for anyone, the minister said.
Later, Balakrishnan countered the charges. Reiterating the opposition demand for a judicial probe, he said the probe could also cover involvement, if any, of the LDF. Meanwhile, there are reports emerging on alleged links between state Public Relations Department Director A Firoz and the solar panel fraud.
Opposition parties continued their protests in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday over the fraud charges. The SFI and Yuva Morcha took out protests to the State Secretariat. Some of the Yuva Morcha protesters, including its state president V V Rajesh, were injured in clashes with the police.
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