Thiruvananthapuram: Another day of the Kerala assembly revolved around the solar power scam, leading to angry exchange of words between ruling and opposition members, and an early end to the House proceedings on Tuesday.
At the centre of the debate was the alleged links that Saritha S. Nair, who is accused in the solar power case, had with the chief minister Oommen Chandy, some of his ministers and several ruling party leaders.
Nair is a director of the Team Solar company, and is accused of conning dozens of people after promising attractive returns on investment in solar power projects. She had alleged that she paid Rs19 million to a middleman on Chandy’s instruction, and another Rs4 million to power minister Aryadan Mohammad. Chandy and Mohammad have denied the allegation.
The Opposition Left Democratic Front MLAs came to the House armed with placards calling for the chief minister’s resignation, and deputy leader of the Opposition, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan demanded an adjournment motion on the solar scam.
The ruckus was set off when Opposition leader, V.S. Achuthanandan alleged that Nair was well-known at Cliff House, the chief minister’s official residence, and that she did not require a pass for entry.
The nonagenarian leader went on to allege that Nair even participated in prayers at Cliff House, adding that it was a “shame” for him to be in the Opposition leader’s role at a time when Chandy was the chief minister.
The personal remarks against the chief minister, angered the ruling front members, triggering a sharp exchange of words. The Opposition then marched to the well of the House, prompting the Speaker to stop proceedings at 11am.
When the Speaker reconvened the House, the Opposition stuck to its demand for an adjournment motion, despite the Speaker’s ruling that the demand had been turned down. The Speaker then decided to end the day’s proceedings.
In his defence, Chandy said “the Opposition did not even give me the consideration of being a public worker”. He said not even a single letter had been issued from his office favouring Nair’s Team Solar company, adding that she had been penalised by a court in Pathanamthitta district for making a fake letterhead of the chief minister’s office.
“If the Opposition trusts Nair’s allegation and follows up on them, they will repent it, like they have done before”, Chandy said.
Meanwhile, Nair submitted more proof to the justice E. Sivarajan Commission that is probing the solar scam. The commission has said it may need more time to submit its report in the light of a number of new disclosures being made by various parties involved.