Puducherry: Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and his Ministerial colleagues continued their dharna outside the Raj Nivas for the third day today protesting Lt Governor Kiran Bedi’s ‘negative stand’ towards his government’s proposals awaiting her approval.
The Chief Minister, his Cabinet colleagues and legislators belonging to the Congress and the DMK continued the agitation outside the Lt Governor’s residence where a large number of Rapid Action Force personnel have been deployed.
Asked if he would turn up for a meeting the Lt Governor had scheduled with him at Raj Nivas on 21 February to sort out the issues, he said, “There is absolutely no need for any such meeting. We have placed before her all our proposals and she is quite aware of them.”
Bedi left for New Delhi Thursday and would be back on 20 February. Narayanasamy contended the Lt Governor was aware of all the proposals the government had submitted for her approval and they all are related to welfare schemes, including distribution of free rice and sanctioning of funds for payment of wages to workers in government undertakings.
“In all, 39 proposals were submitted to her (Bedi) for approval. Let her at least give her nod to some of the important proposals which include free rice scheme and grants for the public sector undertakings,” he said.
Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker V Vaithilingam wrote to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh urging him to appoint an interim administrator to bring to an end the “unusual and disturbed situation” in Puducherry as the Cabinet has been staging a dharna outside the Raj Nivas since 13 February.