Puducherry Cong for full statehood

New PCC President A V Subramanian said at his maiden press conference that though tourism Minister Malladi Krishna Rao (Congress) had distanced himself from the demand for statehood when an official resolution was tabled by Chief Minister N Rangasamy in the Assembly yesterday,the party would hold talks and convince him of the need for statehood.

 

He said Rao had not supported the resolution solely because the people in Yanam (from where Rao was elected and which is an enclave of Puducherry in Andhra Pradesh) had been opposing statehood and had been insistin the present status of Union Territory should be retained.

"We will succeed in convincing Rao and ensure that he toes the line of the ministry and other members to push the demand unitedly and unanimously," he added..

Subramanian said Rao might also be apprehensive that once statehood was granted, the distant region of Yanam would be deleted and kept as a separate pocket, as Daman and Diu were made separate Union Territory when Goa became a state.

"Nothing of this sort will happen. Statehood means covering all four regions of Puducherry Karaikal Mahe and Yanam without leaving out any pocket or region", he said.

Statehood would have several advantages, both financially and administratively for Puducherry. When neighbouring states w ere enjoying full democratic rights and privileges, Puducherry had been "reeling" under lack of powers for the elected ministry. This should never continue and statehood would be an effective key to rectify it, he said.

He said that at the level of the party, organisational works were being accomplished fast by forming committees at the grassroot level and at block levels. He welcomed the UPA government`s steps to ensure quota of 33 per cent for women in legislative bodies.

The PCC leader, who assumed office on March 24 following appointment by AICC leader replacing senior Congress leader P Shanmugham, also said that he and all the legislators of the Congress party,the chief Minister and ministers,AICC delegates V Arun Kumar, K B Krishnamoorthy and Union Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanasamy would camp in Yanam on June 6 to participate in functions there.

Legislators of all political parties from Puducherry would visit Delhi soon to place before the Prime Miniter and UPA chairperson, the copy of the resolution adopted in the Assembly yesterday seeking statehood for Puducherry.