Narayanasamy slams formation of NITI Aayog

Says it will deprive the elected ministry of Puducherry of the opportunity to make representation on its fiscal needs

AICC General Secretary for Northeastern states V Narayanasamy today hit out at the formation of NITI Aayog to replace the Planning Commission, claiming it would deprive the elected ministry of Puducherry of the opportunity to make representation on its fiscal needs.

"The new panel visualised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have as members of the Governing Council the chief ministers of all states. But as far as Union Territory of Puducherry is concerned, the council would have Lt Governor as its member while the chief minister would be kept out of it," the former Union minister told reporters here.

"This is an unjust and undemocratic approach and Congress opposes the formation of the NITI Aayog particularly as it would deprive the elected ministry of Puducherry of the opportunity to make representations on the required financial requirements," he said.

Narayanasamy said it was baffling that Chief Minister N Rangasamy was keeping mum without registering any protest. The ruling AINRC here was extending support to the BJP-led government at the Centre but the Centre "is doing injustice" to Puducherry, he alleged.

When the Planning Commission was in place, there had been discussions with all state chief ministers and Union Territories like Puducherry for finalising plan sizes. But now the new panel would function in an "autocratic manner as per the whims and fancies of the Prime Minister" and whatever size of plan the NITI Aayog decided would be imposed on Puducherry, he claimed.

"Puducherry will thus become dummy and powerless to make its representations for adequate funding," Narayanasamy said.

He said Congress opposed tooth and nail the "ghar wapsi" programme as it would be harmful to the secular features of the country.

He also demanded a CBI probe into what he described as scams allegedly seen in the issue of certificate to students from other states to get admission under Puducherry government quota in private professional colleges.

CBI should also go into allegations of sexual assault on young girls in Puducherry, he added.

He said he had represented the matter to the Lt Governor A K Singh seeking his intervention for a CBI probe, but "nothing has been heard from the government so far.