Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy on Thursday dropped a bombshell offering to quit citing interference in governance by the office of the Lieutenant Governor that came in the way of implementation of welfare measures.
The Minister said he proposed a fast in front of Parliament to condemn the Union Government for failing to rein in the Lt. Governor.
Mr. Kandasamy said he had expressed his desire to resign from the Cabinet as he was not able to implement welfare measures but had been restrained from doing so by Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy.
CM’s advice
Speaking at a government function, he said there was unnecessary interference from certain quarters and even free rice distribution was getting disturbed. “But the Chief Minister has advised me not to do so,” he said. In his address, the Chief Minister said resignation was not a solution to the present situation but the need of the hour was to fight it politically.
Later, in a letter to the Chief Minister, Mr. Kandasamy launched a scathing criticism against the Lt. Governor.
“Ever since our elected government took charge, no welfare schemes could be implemented in time or effectively. Pay arrears, allowances and salaries to staff of the government and government undertakings could not be paid,” Mr. Kandasamy said. “Our announcement to waive farmer’s agricultural loans obtained from primary agricultural co-operative societies could not be made available to farmers till date despite the file was duly processed through Finance and Law departments and because of negative approach of the Lieutenant Governor, Puducherry.
“The file was unnecessarily referred to the Government of India to drag the proposal and as a result the assurance of the government is pending till date thereby leading to the agitation of farmers from Puducherry to the national capital,” the letter said.
Besides, vis-a-vis, the proposal for 100% free education (full reimbursement of tuition fees for Scheduled Caste/Tribe students undergoing various professional courses) got frequently turned down by the Lieutenant Governor despite the proposal being routed through the Law and Finance departments. “In spite of repeated justifications by me and the Chief Minister, the proposal has been turned down by the Lieutenant Governor without any proper reasons. I could not extend any assistance to our youth. Although he hailed from the Scheduled Caste community, as a Cabinet Minister he could not fulfil the social security needs of his community because of the negative approach of the Lieutenant Governor, he said.
Contending that while he had been making efforts for the development of fisherman, development of minor Port Department, dredging work, etc., the Lieutenant Governor had been “personally engaging private individuals and NGOs who are exercising anti-government activities and lodging baseless complaints with the help of NGOs to stop the works of Port and fishermen welfares.” The government was now not in a position to disburse the ongoing schemes of free rice, free clothing items to BPL families during festival occasion well before the festival, he said.
Funds crunch
The department had been receiving more than 15,000 applications continuously on their eligibility for grant of financial assistance from poor families and individuals under old age, widow and destitute pension since 2016, but the same could not be considered due to heavy financial crunch.
“However, I have made attempt to submit the proposal for provision of additional funds to consider at least 5,000 applications out of the total applications received. But the Finance Secretary declined to consider the same on the advice of the Lieutenant Governor,” the letter said.
The Minister claimed that for the last two months, the Finance Secretary on the advice of the Lieutenant Governor, had been “exercising tactics to turn down the files and (create) obstacles for the implementation of welfare schemes. Neither Minister of portfolios nor the Chief Secretary to the government was kept informed of any action taken,” he said.
Mr. Kandasamy accused the Lieutenant Governor of passing orders to government secretaries by warning that she had received corruption complaints and the same was being forwarded to Central Vigilance Commission for taking action.
Mr. Kandasamy alleged that apart from these “anti-government” activities, the Lt. Governor had unilaterally appointed three BJP candidates as nominated MLAs with the connivance of the Centre which was now being challenged in the court.
