Left parties on Saturday flayed the Union government for non-inclusion of the “Chief Minister of Union Territory” within the structure of the newly constituted National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog.
The Union government replaced the Planning Commission with a new institution named NITI Aayog and Cabinet resolutions passed on January 1. The body, which has Prime Minister of India as the Chairman, has not provided representation to the “Chief Minister of Union Territory” in Governing Council and Regional Councils which comprise the Chief Ministers of all the States and Lieutenant Governor of Union Territories only.
Addressing reporters in Puducherry on Saturday, Communist Party of India (CPI) Puducherry unit secretary R.Vishwanathan said that by not including the Chief Minister of Union Territory of Puducherry in NITI Aayog, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government has dealt a “huge blow” to the ruling All India NR Congress Government headed by N.Rangasamy who has been insisting on Statehood to the Union Territory of Puducherry.
“Chief Minister of the Union Territory is elected by people. How can Lieutenant Governor, who is not at all elected by people, participate in the decision making process? The decision is unilateral and anti-democratic”, said Mr.Vishwanathan.
Wrong precedent Terming non-inclusion of Chief Minister in the formation as a wrong precedent, he said Mr. Rangasamy should spell out his stand on whether he was consulted on this matter.
Mr. Vishwanathan wanted to know whether Mr. Rangasamy still stood by his party, the ruling AINRC’s alliance with the BJP, after this “betrayal”.
The CPI leader said the Chief Minister should convene the Cabinet to condemn the decision of Union government.
He should ask it to include the Chief Minister in the body. He added that in the even of the Union government failed to heed, Mr. Rangasamy also should explore the option of withdrawing support to the government at the centre and tendering en masse resignation by his party MLAs in protest against the decision of Union government.
Union government “belittled CM”
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) Puducherry Unit secretary R. Rajangam told The Hindu , “The Union government’s decision is wrong and belittles N.Rangasamy who was elected by people of the Union Territory. It is not acceptable to us. Chief Minister of the Union Territory should be included in the formation.”
CPM cadres on Saturday conducted street corner meeting at Villianur against the policies of BJP-led NDA Government at centre and AINRC Government in the Union Territory.
