LDF not averse to inquiry into ISRO deal: Minister

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 21: Kerala Law Minister M Vijayakumar today said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government was not averse to an inquiry into the controversial ISRO Land Deal.

Talking to reporters here, he said the government had already started a departmental inquiry into the deal and after receiving the report, it would investigate with higher authorities if anything illegal was found.

Indicating an inquiry might be ordered against the previous Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Government, he said the government had decided to collect all the details regarding the deal right from 2002.

A committee comprising Chief Minister, Forest Minister,Revenue Minister and the Advocate General was looking into the legal aspects of the land deal. It was expected to submit its report in the next Cabinet meeting.

When pointed out yesterday's LDF meeting had not favoured any kind of inquiry, he said it had only rejected the probe as demanded by the Opposition.

Alleging the ISRO took the matter very lightly, the Law Minister pointed out the organisation did not follow the procedures to be followed by a Central Government institution for making a request to the government for allotment of land for setting up the space institute in the state.

UNI