Pondy CM: Bedi ‘paralysing’ admn

Puducherry, June 5

The tussle between Lt Governor Kiran Bedi and the Congress government here intensified with the Chief Minister today accusing her of paralysing the administration by making derogatory remarks against the MLAs, ministry and officials through social media.

Bedi had earlier hit out at Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy for his remark that the LG should not act beyond mandate, asking if he wanted a rubber stamp or a responsible administrator.

Puducherry needed justice, integrity and good governance, Bedi, who has been at loggerheads with the state government on certain issues, said in a WhatsApp message.

In the state Assembly, after the Zero Hour, members belonging to the ruling Congress, the DMK and the Opposition AIADMK (Amma) alleged that Bedi had been making unbridled comments against the ministry, officials and legislators.

They asked the CM to ensure that effective steps were taken to end the trend of the Lt Governor criticising the elected representatives.

Welfare Minister M Kandasamy said, “Bedi has been intolerant towards the elected ministry. She is projecting herself as a mouthpiece of the BJP. Nothing could be done by the government ever since she became the Lt Governor.”

Several important decisions of the Cabinet were left hanging following the return of files by the Lt Governor, Narayanasamy said, adding that no official should hereafter accompany Bedi during her weekend visits to constituencies without getting prior permission from the ministers.

He also read out statutory provisions to drive home the point that a Lt Governor can only aid and advise the elected ministry and could not overstep her limits on any count.

Opposition AINRC member NSJ Jayabal, however, said the “chaos in the government has arisen because of failure of the elected ministry to do administrative works properly”. — PTI