Rejecting the LDF's claim that the UDF government's decision to grant no-objection certificates (NOCs) to more CBSE and ICSE schools would affect public schools, Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy today said steps would be taken to protect the general education system.

"There is no basis for the apprehension expressed by the LDF. NOC's will be given only after adhering to the guidelines issued by the CBSE and ICSE boards", he told reporters here.

The government's view was that students should have the opportunity to study in the stream they prefer, he said adding the government would protect general education system.

The decision to grant NOCs for 540 CBSE and ICSE schools was flayed by the LDF which said that the move would "adversely" affect the functioning of public schools in the state.

To a question on Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan's request to expand the scope of the proposed CBI probe to include issues like use of outside state lotteries as cover to launder black money by their operators, Chandy said the government would consider it.

"This government has nothing to hide on the matter", he said.

On the Self-Financing Professional Colleges (SFPC) admission and fees issue, Chandy blamed the previous LDF regime for the crisis in the sector and assured that the government would find a solution to the problem.