Puducherry CM, ministers continue dharna outside Raj Nivas for

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and his ministerial colleagues continued their dharna outside the Raj Nivas for the second day Thursday protesting Lt Governor Kiran Bedi's "negative stand" towards his government' proposals awaiting her approval.

After sleeping on a pavement close to the Raj Nivas wearing black shirts Wednesday, Narayanasamy, his ministers and party MLAs stayed put at the same place through Thursday even as Bedi left for New Delhi early in the morning amid tight security by Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel.

They have been demanding that that the Lt Governor accord sanction to 39 government proposals, including a free rice scheme.

Functionaries of different wings of the ruling Congress and the DMK have also joined the protest, which came close on the heels of similar agitations by Narayanasamy's West Bengal and Delhi counterparts Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal against the Centre.

Irked by the deployment of RAF, Narayanasamy slammed Bedi and questioned the need for such high security when their protest was being held in a peaceful manner.

"Where was the need for calling 400 RAF personnel when we are in peaceful dharna... your attempt to instill fear psychosis will never succeed. We are Puducherians," he tweeted.

Taking a potshot at Bedi, he said "we are still serving food for your RAF guests."
Asserting that their protest would continue till the government proposals were cleared, the chief minister said, "Even if it is not possible to immediately concede all the 39 pleas, the Lt Governor can give her nod to some of the important schemes including the free rice scheme and grants."
"This shows that she does not respect the popular government. This is the height of her vanity."