Sporadic protests by the Congress, the DMK and the Left party workers on the streets adjoining the Raj Nivas on Friday marked the third day of the indefinite agitation being held by Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy against Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi’s style of functioning.
As the police tightened security around the main entrance of the Raj Nivas, where the Chief Minister, Ministers and MLAs have been protesting since Wednesday, party workers found it difficult to reach the venue.
It all started with Central forces not allowing DMK MLA R. Siva to enter the venue after he returned from his morning ablutions. At the same time, Chief Minister’s daughter Vijayalakshmi, who reached the venue along with Mahila Congress workers, was stopped. An agitated Mr. Siva, along with the Chief Minister’s daughter and others, squatted at the Raj Nivas entrance in protest.
Heated argument
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Secretary to Chief Minister K. Lakshminarayanan’s vehicle was stopped near the Romain Rolland Library entrance leading to heated exchanges between him and the police.
Mr. Siva and Mr. Lakshminarayanan were let in after the Chief Minister intervened. Similarly, Ms. Vijayalakshmi and a few Mahila Congress workers were allowed to join the agitation later.
Tight security led to minor skirmishes between party workers and the police at several exit and entry points adjoining the Raj Nivas.
The Chief Minister had to personally intervene each time urging workers to leave the vicinity of the Raj Nivas.
Later, a separate place was earmarked in front of the Head Post Office, which is close to the agitation venue, for the party cadre to organise demonstration.
A senior official, on condition of anonymity, told The Hindu that Ms. Bedi, who left to Delhi on the second day of the agitation, was closely monitoring the developments from the national capital.
The Lt. Governor on Thursday night itself sought a special report from Senior Superintendent of Police (Law and Order) Apoorva Gupta on the security situation, said the official.
The Communist Party of India has demanded immediate withdrawal of paramilitary forces from the Union Territory.
In a statement, party local unit secretary Salim said there was no need for the presence of Central forces as the agitation was going in a peaceful manner.
The deployment of paramilitary forces had only created panic in U.T., he added.
Files cleared
The Chief Minister and Ministers attended routine administrative works, like clearing files, from the venue itself.
All India Congress Committee in-charge Sanjay Dutt and TNCC president K.S. Alagiri visited the venue to extend solidarity with the Cabinet.
Mr. Dutt told reporters at the venue that one of the immediate decisions that the Congress would take if it comes to power at the Centre would be to dismiss Ms. Bedi.
“It is not the job of the Lt. Governor to conduct exams to police officers, issue challan to traffic violators and stand on the road directing two-wheeler riders to wear helmet. She is just aiming to get publicity by her acts,” he said.
Slamming Ms. Bedi for her interference in the administrative affairs, Mr. Alagiri said an elected government had only the right to solve problems faced by people. The Lt. Governor had made it a habit to create obstacles to decisions taken by the Cabinet, he added.
