Pondy minister threatens to go on fast in front of Parliament

A Congress minister in Puducherry today said he would stage a fast in front of Parliament against the Centre for "not taking any step to rein in Lt Governor Kiran Bedi" who, he alleged, was functioning in an "autocratic manner."
Welfare Minister M Kandasamy in a five-page letter to Chief Minister V Narayanasamy referred to "difficulties" his departments had been facing allegedly since the present government was formed last year.
He alleged it was due to the "negative stand of Kiran Bedi in approving various decisions taken by the Cabinet to benefit farmers and other sections of people".
Kandasamy, elected from Embalam (reserved) segment, said he would inform the people in his constituency and stage a fast in front of Parliament in the next two months to condemn "the silence of the central government" which, he alleged, has not taken any steps to rein in Bedi who is functioning in an "utterly autocratic manner".

He alleged that Bedi was adopting "an anti-government" stance and the finance secretary had also been acting on the advice of the Lt Governor to turn down files relating to several welfare measures formulated by his departments.
The minister also requested the chief minister not to include his name, photo and also the departments and portfolios he was holding in the annual new year diaries and official calendars that would be brought out in 2018.

A copy of the letter was released to the media.
The minister's letter comes a day after Bedi shot off a letter to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, seeking action against the Puducherry Adi Dravidar Development Corporation.

Bedi said she had received a complaint from Puducherry- based Rajiv Gandhi Human Rights Organisation, alleging that the corporation had "wasted Rs 6.3 crore meant for the welfare of the Scheduled Caste people by erecting high-mast lamps at 175 centres in nine Assembly constituencies where it is not essential".
The Narayanasamy-led Congress government in Puducherry has been at loggerheads with Bedi over a host of issues since she assumed the office last year.