News and Views

Saritha Nair, accused in the solar scam, produced four CDs before the Solar Scam Inquiry Commission purported to be phone conversations between her and Benny Behnan, MLA and  Thampanoor Ravi, who are close to the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, and Salim Raj, the suspended gun man of Mr. Chandy .

KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran said in Kochi on Sunday that the CPI (M) was in nexus with the liquor lobby to change the liquor policy.

However, their efforts would not succeed.  No force would be able to nullify the policy. The CPI (M) had failed to reverse the ban on arrack brought by A. K. Antony despite coming to power.

Thiruvananthapuram: Excise Minister K. Babu withdrew his resignation on Saturday after the United Democratic Front backed Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s decision not to accept his resignation.

The UDF meeting also proposed that Mr. K. M. Mani, who resigned a Finance Minister, should return as Minster. However, Mr. Mani reacted that he was no in a hurry to join the ministry.

Beleaguered Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Electricity Minister Aryadan Mohammed got a reprieve from High Court on Friday.

Single Bench P. Ubaid stayed the order of the Thrissur Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) S. S. Vasan to register a case against Mr. Chandy and Mohammed, in view of disclosures by accused in the solar scam Saritha S. Nair before the Judicial Commission enquiring into the solar scam.

Discussions between Joint Action Council of endosulfan victims and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Friday to settle the agitation by the victims and their mothers before the Secretariat, failed.

Talks will again be held on February 3. General Convenor of the Council against endosulfan Ambalathara Kunhikrishnan said that the Council would intensify it stir.