LG expresses concern over law and order situation

War of words continued between Lt Governor Virendra Kataria and Chief Minister N Rangasamy over the law and order situation in the union territory, with Kataria today accusing the government of not being sincere over the issue.
He made the comments after a surprise visit to a bakery here that was reportedly attacked by rowdies last month.
"Seventeen days have passed (since he sent an order to the government over the law and order situation) and so far it has not come to me for signature. So who are interested in this, you can draw your own conclusions," he told reporters here.

Rangasamy, however, shot back, saying there are a lot of complexities in running the administration.
"We got freedom from the French rulers. It is true. But Puducherry is a union territory now. There are a lot of complexities in running the administration. We are in a compulsion now to think over who really has power over the administration," he said at a function here.
The war of words between the two leaders has been in the open for some days now.

A few days back, Kataria made some critical observations on the law and order situation. Rangasamy had retorted, saying that Kataria should have held a joint meeting of officials with him before airing such views.

However, Kataria shot down the suggestion about the joint meeting, saying it is the CM's duty to take steps and apprise him of the action and take his advice.
When Rangasamy was asked about Kataria's recent reported remarks that he had not discussed the law and order situation with Kataria though he had met him several times, Rangasamy reiterated that the Lt Governor should have convened a joint meeting with him and discussed the issue.
The Madras High Court too took up the law and order issue earlier this month, with Justice K K Sasidharan expressing concern over growing activities of anti-social elements and coming down on police for remaining "silent spectators."

He had also directed the Collector to submit before September 19 a report on the number of cases registered under the Prevention of Anti Social Activities Act (Goondas Act).
The judge had said if this kind of "lawlessness" continues, it would affect overall development of Puducherry, which attracts visitors not only from India, but even abroad.