Cong puts up brave face; Left demands Chandy's resignation

With the Kerala High Court today pulling up the office of Oommen Chandy, the Chief Minister and other Congress leaders put up a brave face saying government was not scared of a CBI probe in the case even as the LDF sought his resignation seizing on the HC observations.
"The government is not averse to a CBI probe. We would not try to protect wrong-doers," Chandy told a TV news channel.
"I am sure the Chief Minister himself would respond to the court order in a very clear manner", KPCC president V M Sudheeran told reporters without going into the merit or demerit of the order.

Culture Minister K C Joseph, a confidant of Chandy, however, voiced reservations over the court order that came in the midst of the election campaign providing a weapon to the opposition.
"The government is not opposed to CBI probe if that is necessary. But it is unfortunate that the court has made certain adverse remarks which would be seized on by the opposition in the campaign," Joseph said.
LDF leaders were quick to take seize the opportunity to sharpen its campaign against the UDF government in general and Chandy in particular.

"Chandy is increasingly proving that he is not left with an iota of self-respect," CPI(M) stalwart and opposition leader V S Achuthanandan said at a campaign meeting.

Joining issue, CPI(M) state secretry Pinarayi Vijayan said "Chandy has lost moral right to remain in office and he should quit office without waiting for a moment."
Welcoming the HC order for a CBI probe into land grab cases allegedly involving Chandy's former gunman, CPI said Chandy should take it as a prima facie finding against him and resign.
"If Chandy has any respect for democratic values and norms, he should step down. The High Court order is also a reflection on the lack of credibility on the police under the present government," CPI state secretary Panniyan Raveendran said in a statement here.

Coming down heavily against the office of the Chief Minister, the Kerala High Court today said he is "anwserable" to the state over the appointment of his personal staff as it ordered a CBI probe into two land grabbing cases against his former gunman.