Puducherry: Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi today hit back at Chief Minister V Narayanasamy for questioning her powers and said such statements were “hurting the speed of progress” of the union territory.
Bedi, who has been having a running battle with the Congress government here, was reacting to Narayanasamy’s remarks yesterday that she had been issuing instructions to officials during her field visits “without authority.”
In a message to the media, she said by making such regular negative statements about the responsibilities and accountability of the Lt Governor’s office the Chief Minister “is always hurting speed of progress of Puducherry.”
Narayanasamy had also said officials need not listen to Bedi’s instructions. She said, “If progress has been his interest then he would not make such statements.” The former IPS officer said the responsibilities of the office of the Lt Governor were clearly laid down under the law and the rules, and if anyone wants to know them they may read them.
She cited the recent judgment of the Supreme Court on the tussle between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lt Governor Anil Baijal and said judges in the apex court had said the verdict does not apply to Puducherry.
Bedi said she has so far spent more than 26 months as Lt Governor of Puducherry, which would have emerged on top among union territories on all parameters if the Chief Minister had not hindered the collective efforts.
She said, “whatever orders were issued were from the office of the Lieutenant Governor, not my orders.”
Narayanasamy had yesterday said of late Bedi had been issuing warnings through social media to officers and intimidating them that stern action would be taken if they were found wanting to implement schemes like Swachh Bharath Abhiyan in the union territory.