Thiruvananthapuram: Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy has defended former Chief Minister A.K. Antony and his Government on the Marad issue terming the steps he took as `transparent' and `appropriate.'

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Mr. Chandy wanted the State Government to refer the first Marad violence also for a CBI inquiry in the light of the Marad Commission's reference to the involvement of CPI (M), BJP and RSS workers in the incident.

Mr. Chandy quoted the relevant portions of the Marad Commission report referring to the CPI(M) activists' involvement in the first Marad incident, which led to the second gruesome murders a year later.

He said the Antony Government's decision not to go for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation had its own rationale as the main priority before the Government at that time was to maintain law and order and prevent escalation of communal violence besides establishing the confidence of the aggrieved parties about the good intentions of the Government. Mr. Chandy felt the Marad judicial probe had failed to grasp the real situation that prevailed at that time.

He said the Antony Government was able to ensure that not a single drop of blood was shed in any part of the State following the Marad murders. He said the Government had conducted the police case effectively, as a result of which not a single accused had succeeded in getting bail.

The all-party meeting was also against a CBI probe with the BJP being the only party that demanded it. Mr. Chandy also quoted portions of the report to point out that the police had acted firmly in preventing an escalation of violence. The CPI(M) also held the view that a CBI inquiry was not necessary.

The terms of the agreement later left it to the Government to decide whether a CBI inquiry was necessary on the basis of the advice of the Advocate-General.

The aggrieved parties also withdrew their writ petition before the Kerala High Court on the basis of the IG of police Mahesh Kumar Singla's deposition before the court.

The commission had found fault with police officials for actions they did not apparently take, but not with steps that the police took in the aftermath of the Marad murder.

Mr. Chandy also decried the attempts of certain quarters to isolate the Indian Union Muslim League and its leader P. K. Kunhalikutty, who had taken the initiative to bring about an amicable settlement of the issue.

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