As the day and night agitation by the Cabinet led by Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy in front of the Raj Nivas to protest against the style of functioning of Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi entered the fourth day on Saturday, Ms. Bedi wrote a blog inviting the Chief Minister and Ministers for an open discussion in a public forum.
Immediately after Ms. Bedi wrote the blog, Mr. Narayanasamy hit back through a series of tweets asking her not to “fool Puducherrians by social media campaigns”.
In her blog, Ms. Bedi said, “I am open to discuss all issues in an open public forum where the Chief Minister, his Cabinet colleagues and members of public are present along with Chief Secretary.”
Ms. Bedi said the open discussion would help the public know how Raj Nivas worked to save money while implementing schemes, including the free rice scheme.
CM’s disturbance
The Raj Nivas ensured that money meant for the poor and needy was not diverted. The steps taken by her office had ensured that there was no violation in release of grant-in aid. “It is this which has disturbed the Chief Minister,” she said.
She also apologised to the people for the inconvenience caused due to the agitation. Before issuing the open letter, Ms. Bedi, in a message to reporters, asked what the police would have done if a common man had staged an “unlawful”, protest.
Posting a picture of the Chief Minister clearing files sitting at the protest venue, she asked, “Is this lawful Mr. CM... What if a common man had done this outside your (Chief Minister’s office?) What would you have expected the police to do?”
She sought to know whether the local police will act. When The Hindu asked her whether she wanted the police to remove the protesters, Ms. Bedi said, “My message to CM is to request him to be sensitive to the inconvenience he is physically causing to the common man.”
In a series of tweets, the Chief Minister sought to know from Ms. Bedi the steps taken by her to waive loans accumulated by the territorial administration after a separate account for the UT was opened by the Union government. He also asked whether Ms. Bedi had ever approached the Government of India seeking more funds to UT.
‘Seek apology’
Mr. Narayanasamy asked the L-G to apologise to the people for misusing funds collected for Corporate Social Responsibility, for not implementing MHA direction to re-delegate powers, for stopping contract teachers’ recruitment, for grabbing financial powers of elected government, hindering welfare schemes for Scheduled Caste people and working against the interest of sugarcane growers.
