Puducherry: Sporting a black attire, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy staged a dharna outside Raj Nivas against Lt Governor Kiran Bedi for rejecting government files on various matters sent to her for approval.
He demanded Bedi to sanction 39 government proposals that were sent to her approval since the last few weeks and insisted that they would leave the venue only after getting a positive reply from her. Speaker V Vaithilingam, Congress and DMK MLAs were also part of the protest.
Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said, “Kiran Bedi should mend her ways and sanction her approval to our decisions. If she wants, she can contest an election in Puducherry.” He further demanded her to come out and hold talks with him.
Although funds were earmarked in the budget for them, various issues, such as implementation of the free rice scheme, grants to privately managed educational institutions, sanction of funds for government undertakings and implementation of various welfare schemes for Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and OBCs, were stalled by the Lt Governor, said Narayanasamy.
Reacting to the Chief Minister’s action, Bedi sent a letter (a copy of which was sent to reporters) to him, saying “Instead of waiting for my response to your February 7 letter, you have come to Raj Nivas, demanding a reply in this unlawful manner…This method is unheard of from a person of your position.”
Claiming that nothing was pending at the Raj Nivas, she said all the issues Narayanasamy had mentioned in his letter needed examination for a ‘considered response.’ She invited Narayanasamy for a detailed discussion on 21 February.