Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy on Thursday denied the grave charges levelled by solar case prime accused Biju Radhakrishnan against him and said he would quit public life if even one per cent of
Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy on Thursday denied the grave charges levelled by solar case prime accused Biju Radhakrishnan against him and said he would quit public life if even one per cent of the charges were found to be true.
Making a statement in the Assembly, Mr Chandy said Biju was targeting him as his government had conducted an effective probe into his wife’s murder. Biju was sentenced to life imprisonment and “that’s why he is raising these charges”.
“Biju tried to blackmail me but I didn’t succumb,” he said and demanded that the CD containing evidence should be submitted before the Solar Commission.
“I have been in public life for 55 years. I don’t hide anything. My public life is an open book. It is open for scrutiny,” Mr Chandy said.
“Even if one per cent of these allegations are proved true, I will lose the right to remain in public life. But if it is otherwise, then the Opposition is doing injustice not only to an individual but to a system and the entire state,” Mr Chandy said.
“If your intention is to send me off by humiliating me, then I would go down in the history as a chief minister who did not succumb to the worst kind of blackmailing and stood for justice and while doing so had to face huge challenges and humiliations. This is the power of my conscience,” he told the Opposition.
“I am a believer. If I have done (something) good, I will get acceptance. But if I have done something wrong, I will get punished,” he said.
Chandy said when Biju came to meet him at the Ernakulam guest house, he was known as Dr R. B. Nair. “M. I. Shahnawaz MP had told me that the managing director of a company wanted an appointment.
“We discussed a confidential matter. The Opposition had earlier asked me to disclose as to what transpired between us. Even at this juncture when I am facing serious accusations, because of my dignity, I am not going to disclose (it) even now,” Chandy said.
The chief minister said there was another person who accompanied Biju. “I have not disclosed anything but that the person has already given a statement before the commission,” he said.
Chandy said there was also another allegation that Biju came to Cliff House to meet him at the height of the solar scam. “Saritha (S. Nair) was arrested on June 3, 2013 and Biju Radhakrishnan on June 16, 2013. But during the investigation, it was found that his mobile tower location during these days was outside Kerala,” he said.
