A combative Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has ruled out stepping down over solar panel scam, latest developments of which this morning appeared to have pushed his Government to a precipice.

“I will not act on media interpretations of court observations,” he said in reply to oral comments passed by two separate Benches of the High Court earlier in the day.

Chandy’s response comes in the context of caustic observations by the court as reported by news channels doubting the credibility of the probe into the scam.

The Chief Minister said that he had spoken to the advocate-general and director-general of prosecutions on what had transpired in the court. There was nothing to suggest that severe strictures were passed against the Government.

He asked the media to verify the ‘breaking news’ and give an informed version on the issue to the public.

“I have the highest respect and regard for the court, irrespective of the nature of its comments and views,” Chandy said.

The probe in the scam was right on track and would continue to be so, he added.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Left Democratic Front continued with sit-in protests in front of the State Secretariat seeking Chandy’s resignation.

>vinson.kurian@thehindu.co.in

Related Topics