Cong to present petition to Prez against AINRC Govt

Stepping up its attack on the AINRC Government, Congress would present a petition to President Pranab Mukherjee during his visit later this month listing out "irregularites" in implementation of various schemes, including the free rice distribution.
Addressing members of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) here, former union minister and senior leader V.Narayanasamy said a Congress delegation would present the petition to Mukherjee on September 26.
The party would also urge the President to order a detailed probe into the alleged "bungling" in implementation of free rice and other schemes, he added.
Congress has been alleging that the government was procuring rice for the scheme at a higher price besides flouting norms in the tender process to benefit merchants close to the ruling party.

The President is slated to participate in the golden jubilee celeration of premier health institution JIPMER.
Narayanasamy also reiterated his opposition to the demand for statehood to Puducherry, saying such a status would be injurious to the interest of the union territory.

Congress' stand was that the Centre should grant statehood with special category status to Puducherry as that alone would ensure adequate central funds and all the four regions would remain intact without merger, he added.
Narayanasamy, who was the Minister of State in the PMO during the previous UPA regime, charged the Narendra Modi Government was functioning like an 'autocratic administration'.

The Prime Minister was keen about privatisation of all the major sectors, he added.