Slamming Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi’s remarks on his recent visit to Singapore, Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy on Tuesday said he undertook the “private” tour after obtaining clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said he had informed the Prime Minister in writing about his visit to Singapore following an invitation from the Indian community on October 10. He had categorically stated that it was a private visit and no government expenditure was involved.
On October 29, the MEA gave clearance to him, the Minister for Industries M.O.H.F Shahjahan and Chairman of Puducherry Industrial Promotion Development and Investment Corporation Limited, R. Siva to visit Singapore, the Chief Minister said. He had also communicated to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police about the visit.
The Chief Minister was responding to Ms Bedi’s remarks that she had apprised the Centre about the visit as there was no clarity whether the delegation had obtained approval from the authorities concerned.
“I have been a Parliamentarian for a long time and served as a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and am well aware of the rules and regulations. I regret that the Lt. Governor without knowing facts made such irresponsible comments while occupying a Constitutional position,” Mr. Narayanasamy said.
Stating that he was leaving her comments to the conscience of the people of the Union Territory, the Chief Minister said “We are elected by the people and occupy Constitutional positions. We are not slaves of anyone.”
About the Lt. Governor’s statement that the Chief Minister on a private visit was doing a government job, Mr. Narayanasamy said there was nothing wrong in seeking investments while on a private visit. He had had very fruitful discussions with representatives of the Singapore Business Federation and Singapore Chamber of Commerce on the sidelines of his private visit.
A company had promised to invest around Rs 1,500 crore to set up a mirror manufacturing factory at Karaikal. Also, a Tiruvarur- born businessmen, now living in Singapore had said he would establish a super-speciality hospital in Karaikal. Once the two ventures materialise, around 1,000 people would get jobs there, he said.
Two other business establishments based in Singapore have evinced interest in setting up a mall here and in starting a cruise service between Chennai- Puducherry-Karaikal and Kanniyakumari. A team representing the cruise operators would be coming to Puducherry on November 20 for further discussions, he said.
Mr. Narayanasamy said he also had a very positive discussion with representatives of Meinhardt and Sarbana Jurong, two Singapore-based firms involved in infrastructure development, on airport expansion and on the setting up of IT parks.
