Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy has charged the office of the Lieutenant Governor with committing a “Himalayan scam” in mobilising funds under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) scheme.
Questioning the propriety of Raj Nivas in collecting funds from private sources without involving a committee constituted for the same, he alleged that this could not have happened without the knowledge of Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi.
“I will write to the Union Home Ministry seeking a judicial probe into the modalities adopted by Raj Nivas in raising funds,” he told reporters.
Mr. Narayanasamy said that Ms. Bedi had opened a desk in her office with two staff of the Raj Nivas to raise funds and work on the scheme.
This was in violation of the procedure. The office of the Lt. Governor had become a collection centre giving rise to suspicion about the donors, he said. The committee for collection of funds under CSR was constituted in 2011 under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister and officials of various departments. But how could the Lt. Governor go ahead with the task of raising funds.
To write to Centre
The Chief Minister alleged that there had been misuse of power by the officials in Raj Nivas.There were complaints that Raj Nivas had been contacting private companies, educational institutions and industries to make donations for dredging waterbodies. Since the whole scheme had been tainted by procedural lapses, the Centre should intervene and order a judicial probe. “I am writing to the Union Home Minister in this regard so that there would be no room for any suspicion,” he said.
The Chief Minister wanted Raj Nivas to make public the total amount raised so far under the CSR. The name of the donors must be disclosed and the work done should be clarified, he said.
Referring to the procedures adopted by his office in raising funds for the Kerala Flood Relief, he said the government issued receipts even for small amounts.
The CSR committee screened the background of the donors and ascertained whether they were genuine without any infirmities. But nothing of this kind had been seen in the collection of funds by Raj Nivas, Mr. Narayanasamy said.
Contradictory stand
While on the one hand Ms. Bedi said there was no financial transaction or involvement of Raj Nivas in collection of funds, on the other, Selvaganapathy, a nominated MLA, had donated a cheque to the Lt. Governor. This had been made public by Ms. Bedi and hence there was a contradiction in her statements, he alleged.
Mr. Narayanasamy refuted the allegations that he was not interested in making Puducherry water rich.
“Why should I have such an attitude? But my concern is that there should be no violation of procedure and misuse of authority,” he said.
Referring to the allegation by Ms. Bedi that he was not comfortable with Theva Neethi Dhas, the Chief Minister said that the former Secretary was permitted to be appointed as a consultant by the Union Home Ministry. However, Ms. Bedi designated him as Officer on Special Duty. “How can a directive of the Home Minister be violated by the Lt. Governor? She is bringing bad name to the very office of the Lt. Governor”, the Chief Minister added.
