CM Narayanasamy seeks full statehood for Puducherry with special powers

Express News Service |

Published: 15th June 2018 08:01 PM

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy | PTI

PUDUCHERRY: Toeing the lines of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy on Friday today sought full statehood; with special powers for the Union territory of Puducherry and Delhi. Addressing a press conference on Friday, Narayanasamy said that a government resolution seeking statehood with special powers will be adopted in the territorial assembly during the budget and forwarded to the centre. Then only the highhandedness of the Lt Governors will stop.

The situation in Puducherry was not different from that of Delhi and alleged that the centre is stalling the functioning of the non-congress governments in the UTs with the help of the Lt governors. The cold war between the Delhi Lt.Governor and chief minister has reached the peak, he said. Puducherry Lt.Governor Kiran Bedi too is "misusing" her administrative powers by interfering in the day to day functioning of the government, he charged. Narayanasamy said she is directly issuing orders to officials during her weekend visits as well as through Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter.

The elected government is unaware of the directions given or decisions taken on behalf of the government. Whats app is not a recognized method of government communication, but if the officials did not adhere to it, she is threatening government officials. The Chief minister maintained that several times he had written to her function within the limits of her powers as an administrator, but the net result is zero. Even complaints to centre bore no results as the centre is trying to put breaks in administration through the LG.

Except the non-BJP ruled UTs of Delhi and Puducherry and to certain extent Tamilnadu, no other governors are interfering in the affairs of the elected government. To put an end this menace, Puducherry need special category status. Puducherry and Delhi are having different situations and hence, several political leaders has insisted that Delhi needs statehood and Puducherry statehood with special powers. When asked whether he would toe the same way of protest as resorted by Arvind Kejriwal and his council of ministers, the chief minister said that so far he had handled everything in a dignified way within the limits of decency, but the elected government should not be pushed to limits to resort to such agitations and said that he will not be responsible for their action if the Lt Governor's interference goes beyond the their limits of patience.

He charged LG of doing little for Puducherry and only seeking publicity. For the development of Puducherry, the LG should hold hand with the government, but regretted that there has been no contribution from her. On the contrary, there has been non-cooperation with the government on free rice scheme, waiver of agricultural loan, financial assistance to students of higher education, operation of flights, Port expansion project, he said. It was the efforts of the elected government that has led to smart city project, operation of flights, waiver of farm loans , he said.