In response to Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy who offered to quit alleging his inability to implement welfare schemes because of her interference in governance, Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi on Friday said the Minister was “welcome to Raj Nivas and discuss” his grievance.
Mr. Kandasamy, who on Thursday offered to quit as he had been unable to deliver on promises made to the underprivileged because of alleged overbearing intervention of the Lt. Governor, wrote to the Chief Minister explaining the piquant situation.
He threatened to go on fast in front of Parliament in protest against the Centre’s failure to rein in Ms. Bedi.
A copy of the letter was marked to the Lt. Governor.
Ready for discussion
In response, the Lt. Governor wrote to the Chief Minister and Welfare Minister, stating that the latter was “most welcome to discuss with me the issues raised in your letter, at Raj Nivas any time. I shall request the Finance Secretary to be present to give the required inputs.”
“These issues have been addressed in different government files. With the limited resources available, we are for spending for the needy and for right expenditure and not otherwise,” Ms. Bedi said in her letter which was copied to the Chief Minister.
‘Talk to me first’
Later, in a WhatsApp message circulated to media, Ms. Bedi remarked that the “Honourable Minister before going to Delhi for a fast is welcome to Raj Nivas any day any time to discuss. He could try meeting me first.”
“We shall be happy to show him some very interesting evidence we have before I may decide to send to CVC or the CBI. Though I have already informed the Vice-Chairman of the diversion of funds at the cost of money for scholarships. I am not sure if he has seen it. It may help him understand matters concerning people whose causes he proclaims to espouse but the decisions being taken by his department is to the contrary. He may choose to correct the direction? For the benefit of the under privileged,” the message read.
