Opposition uninterested in truth behind solar scam: Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram: The Left Opposition is uninterested in the truth behind the solar panel scam, and just wants to carry on its campaign until the general elections of 2014, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said Wednesday.

"Is this not a golden opportunity for the Left Opposition to come out with all the evidence against me and my office before the G. Sivarajan Judicial Commission?" Chandy asked reporters here.

Chandy was responding to queries after Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan said that the Left would not cooperate with the judicial probe because they wanted a sitting judge of the High Court to conduct the probe, and what they got was a retired High Court judge.

"We decided today to appoint Justice (retd) Sivarajan (for the probe) because, despite two letters to the Kerala High Court Chief Justice to provide a sitting judge, a full court bench of the high court pointed out the Supreme Court ruling that high court judges need not go for a judicial probe announced by any state government. The Supreme Court also pointed to the huge pendency of cases in the high court, and the shortage of judges," Chandy said.

Chandy said Sivarajan is at present the chairman of the Backward Commission and was appointed when Achuthanandan was heading the government.

"It is they who appointed him. We checked up the rules, and there is no bar for him to head the judicial commission on the solar scam," Chandy said.

"We have already finalised the terms of reference (of the commission) and it includes all issues raised on this matter, both inside and outside the assembly. What more can be done? They are just not interested in the truth," he added.