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CPI justifies stand on demand for full Statehood

PUDUCHERRY: National Council member of the Communist Party of India (CPI) R.Viswanathan on Friday made it clear that the demand for Statehood for Puducherry had come to the fore against the backdrop of the denial of Special Category Status for the Union Territory by the successive Central governments.

Joining issue with leader of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) in Parliament M. Ramadass who had expressed the view that Puducherry should strive for Special Category Status and in the event of the Centre refusing to grant it the UT could settle for Statehood, he told reporters here that the demand had not been conceded right from 1991.

Mr.Viswanathan released copies of three letters purported to have been sent by the Union Home Ministry to the Union Territory government declining to consider the proposals for Statehood and Special Category Status.

In a letter dated October 3, 1991, the then Home Minister S.B. Chavan had told the then Chief Minister V.Vaithilingam that the proposal to confer Statehood on the Union Territory did not seem appropriate to be considered at present.

Chavan, in response to Mr.Vaithilingam’s letter dated May 19, 1993 had said on August 23, 1993 that there was no change in the Home Ministry’s position on the demand for Statehood.

Chavan had also said, “In so far as conferral of ‘Special Category’ status is concerned, it is generally given to hill States which are sparsely populated. Further, by virtue of being a Union Territory, necessary funds are being provided by the Central government to Pondicherry. That being so, it will not be possible to grant ‘Special Category’ status to the Union Territory.”

The third letter dated August 1, 2007 was sent by the then Under Secretary to Government (Home) Baldev Singh to the then Chief Secretary Pradip Mehra with regard to the demand for Special Category status. Mr. Singh had said, “…it has been decided with the approval of the Hon’ble Home Minister that the existing arrangement in respect of Puducherry i.e. UT with Legislature may continue.”

The government sponsored resolution demanding Statehood had been supported by the legislators belonging to the PMK also, he pointed out.

The law and order situation in Puducherry had deteriorated, Mr. Viswanathan said, calling for mass transfer of all the police personnel in the law and order wing.

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