Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy on Saturday said Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi should either sign the file seeking sanction for providing Pongal gifts to all cardholders or else should be ready to face consequences.
“After the Madras High Court gave its order on issuance of Pongal gifts by Tamil Nadu government, I have re-sent the file again to Lt. Governor for her approval to give gifts to all card holders. If she again rejects the government proposal, she should be ready to face the consequences,” he said addressing a press conference here.
The people of Union Territory had shown their “resilience” and “determination” during its struggle to obtain freedom from the French rule and again during the agitation against the move to merge UT with Tamil Nadu. The Lt. Governor should not underestimate the people of UT, Mr. Narayanasamy said.
Ms. Bedi had twisted the High Court order to give an impression that the judiciary had struck down Tamil Nadu government’s decision to give Pongal gifts such as sugar, jaggery and sugarcane.
The court had only questioned TN government’s decision to distribute ₹1,000 to all card holders irrespective of their economic background. The court had not said anything on the distribution of gift items, he said.
The Lt. Governor was issuing statements citing HC order to buttress her stand against distribution of gift items to Above Poverty Line category cardholders.
Mr. Narayanasamy said that he and Social Welfare Minister had given in writing their objection to change rules of the Pongal gift scheme so as to restrict it to Below Poverty Line and Antyodaya Anna Yojana card holders.
As per rule (50) of the Rules of Business of Government of Pondicherry, the Lt. Governor was bound to refer a subject once a dispute emerged, with the elected government.
Without getting the mandatory approval of the Cabinet, the Lt. Governor had changed the rules of an existing scheme restricting Pongal gifts to BPL and AAY card holders. “When Tamil Nadu government can distribute gifts to all cardholders, why can’t UT give the items to its people,” the Chief Minister asked.
