V Narayanasamy to attend the GST council meeting in Delhi

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Saturday said he would participate in the meeting of the Goods and Services Council slated to be held in Delhi on September 22 and 23.

Talking to reporters here, he said he would place before the council the stand of the Puducherry government that the Centre compensate for any fiscal loss the Union Territory would suffer in the event of implementing the GST Act.

He said he had a letter for participation in the meeting from the Finance Ministry.

Puducherry Assembly had already ratified the GST Bill tabled by the Chief Minister on September 2 amid protest by opposition AIADMK. AINRC had also boycotted the proceedings.

He also sought Centre's assistance to meet expenditure arising out of the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commision recommendations for staff and pensioners here between January and August this year. "We have ordered the implementation of the report from out of our funds from this month," he said.

On attacks on Tamils and their properties in Karnataka over Cauvery water issue, the Chief Minister said it was the duty of that government to preserve law and order and to protect the properties of the Tamils.

He said the bandh called by various outfits and political parties on Cauvery issue went off peacefully on Friday in Puducherry.

He expressed grief over the death of a Naam Tamizhar Katchi activist, who set himself on fire over Cauvery issue in Chennai, adding, there should not be any such incidents.