Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy on Tuesday said Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi was trying to deviate from the real issue on the recommendation of a probe by the Central Vigilance Commission on alleged irregularities in the purchase of houseboats by the previous AINRC government.
Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Narayanasamy said he had without naming anyone raised the propriety of recommending a CVC probe without informing an elected government.
As a response to his statement, Ms. Bedi joined issue with him by clarifying that she had recommended the CVC probe using the quasi judicial powers as an administrator.
“The allegation of corruption in purchasing houseboats is purely an administrative matter. It cannot be mixed with quasi judicial powers,” he said.
Mr. Narayanasamy said he was only articulating the government’s view that due process was not followed by the Lt Governor.
“Before recommending a probe, she should have consulted the Chief Minister, Minister or the Chief Secretary. Without answering the government’s charge she was trying to deflect people’s attention by bringing in quasi judicial powers. Here the question is not of quasi judicial powers,” Mr. Narayanasamy said.
‘Many from T.N.’
He also accused Ms. Bedi of giving exaggerated figures on dengue cases.
A good number of people getting treated at the Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital and Postgraduate Institute and Government Medical College were from the neighbouring districts of Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister said.
So far two patients admitted with dengue in government hospitals have died. One of the deceased, Saravanan, a resident of Mudaliarpet, died after being discharged from the hospital. The deceased was reportedly undergoing treatment for cardiac ailments, he added.
“We don’t know about the 700% increase in dengue cases,” the Chief Minister said.
The government had convened a meeting of officials from the Health Department and Local Administration Department two weeks ago to assess the situation. Another meeting would be convened in a day or two to form a task force to bring more coordination between departments.
Minister for Agriculture R. Kamalakannan, who was also present at the press conference, slammed Ms. Bedi for her stand on farm loan waiver. The Cabinet had decided to waive farm loan and repay the amount to co-operative societies in phases.
The total amount was about ₹22 crore, he said.
The Lieutenant Governor referred the matter to the Centre when the territorial administration was well within its rights to waive the loans taken from cooperative societies, Mr. Kamalakannan said.
“Now, the Union Home Ministry had sought clarifications from the Chief Secretary.
“Almost a year has passed, we are answerable to the farmers. The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh can waive farm loans to the tune of around ₹ 30,000 crore. But, the Congress government here cannot waive loan for ₹ 22 crore,” he wondered.
