Puducherry Minister for Health and Tourism and Yanam MLA Malladi Krishna Rao demonstrated against Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi by hoisting black flags at his residence in Yanam and wearing a black shirt when Ms. Bedi visited areas in the town on Tuesday morning. She was greeted by members of the public with black flags, balloons and placards demanding resolution of their long-pending issues.
Mr. Rao has alleged that the Lt. Governor has been delaying many welfare and development schemes in his constituency and several attempts to get an audience have gone unanswered.
Speaking to The Hindu over the phone, Mr. Rao said, “On January 8, 2017, she visited Yanam. The public and I submitted several representations. Still, the issues were not resolved. Now, after coming to know that she would visit Yanam through Twitter, I sought an appointment on October 11. I was told that she was not feeling well. But despite the health issue, she left Puducherry and visited Yanam along with key police officials who are supposed to be monitoring the situation in Nallavaadu and Veerampattinam where fishermen groups clashed. In addition to the top police brass of Puducherry, she also has the Andhra police with her in the town.”
‘No intimation’
“Till this minute, I was not given any intimation. I have asked for an appointment in Puducherry earlier and gave a reminder letter today here. I was only asking for an opportunity for joint inspection and review meetings with the Governor. It is a basic procedure to first consider representations from the local MLA when the Lt. Governor or the Chief Minister visits the constituency. In an hour, I shall give another letter reminding her of the requests made for an appointment. The Governor visited a few places today and was greeted by people of various walks of life with black flags and black ribbons, which forced her to skip other programmes,” he added.
Mr. Rao clarified that the disappointment with the Governor is completely a local issue and not related to the Congress. “There are several pending works in the region. Many people, including employees, want to submit representations. Most of the issues are pending with the Governor’s office. In this scenario, if the Governor fails to heed our pleas, the visit would be of no use,” Mr. Rao said.
Some of the 23 issues raised by the Minister in his representation submitted on October 12 with the Governor are the provision of rice to the public through co-operative stores, settlement of GSPC compensation to fishermen who lost livelihood due to gas pipeline and exploration activities and release of the cyclone relief fund.
Ms. Bedi reached Yanam late on Monday. She visited the Government General Hospital, a school and also took stock of the sanitation in the town.
