In a rare outburst, probably for the first time since the tug of war between the Congress-led Government and Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi began, Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy on Friday lashed out at Ms. Bedi for spreading “blatant untruth” about politicians and officials and also challenged her to produce documents substantiating the charges.
Making a short intervention in the Legislative Assembly after laying a statement on Centac admission to postgraduate seats in private colleges, the Chief Minister said he had maintained a stand against discussing the conduct of the Lt. Governor in the House. “But, today I am compelled to say that she is telling blatant untruth about politicians and officials in the Union Territory. If she has got proof on any misdeeds, she should produce it,” he said.
He urged Speaker V. Vaithilingam to take note of those “sweeping” allegations made by the L-G.
Earlier, making a statement on the Centac admission, he said the Lt. Governor had been trying to spread false information about the steps taken by the government. It was for the first time that the private colleges parted with the seats to government quota for admission to postgraduate seats.
Though a private college had offered to provide seats during the previous regime, the N.R. Congress government failed to obtain the seats, he said.
This academic year, the government had received 162 seats and after inviting online applications, 267 candidates applied. Ninety-one students were initially selected based on NEET qualifying marks and candidates’ choice of subjects. After the two rounds of counselling, 71 vacant seats went to the all India quota as per the Government of India and Medical Council of India guidelines.
Meanwhile, NEET qualifying marks were reduced and 10 more local students were offered seats taking the number to 101 candidates.
Fee controversy
As for the controversy on fee, he said the committee headed by a former High Court judge had fixed ₹3 lakh and ₹13 lakh as fee for the government quota and management quota respectively.
Meanwhile, the private college managements approached the court challenging the fee fixed by the committee. Subsequently, the committee increased the fee to ₹5.5 lakh and ₹14 lakh, he said.
Mr. Narayanasamy said the Lt. Governor on May 30 rushed to the Centac office and made a “totally incorrect and misleading” statement that the government had given away the unfilled seats to private managements.
“As per the Government of India and MCI guidelines, the unfilled seats had to be offered to all India students. We have no choice in the matter. All over the country same practice is followed,” he said.
The Lt. Governor insisted on issuing offer letter to 26 students of which 22 were given to deemed universities. “These candidates have opted to accept the seats on assurance of the Lt. Governor that deemed university also came under the purview of the fee committee. However, the fee committee and the Law Department have clearly opined that the deemed universities do not come under their purview,” the statement said.
The Chief Minister said it would be the responsibility of Lt. Governor to sort out the issues pertaining to those 22 seats.
