Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal arrived in Puducherry on Monday. (Twitter/@ArvindKejriwal)
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, along with his deputy Manish Sisodia, on Monday met Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and expressed solidarity over the ongoing tussle with Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi. Narayanasamy’s indefinite dharna outside Raj Nivas, the official residence of the L-G, entered the sixth day today. He has accused Bedi of “undemocratic acts and ways of functioning”, stalling multiple decisions by the Congress government and “blocking crucial files”.
The AAP leaders’ visit to Puducherry comes weeks after Kejriwal said he was “eager” for an alliance with the Congress for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Like his Puducherry counterpart, Kejriwal also had several run-ins with L-G Anil Baijal in Delhi. Incidentally, Kejriwal defeated Bedi in the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections — she was BJP’s chief ministerial candidate.
Arvind Kejriwal in Puducherry LIVE UPDATES: Chief Minister V Narayanasamy sleeps outside the Raj Niwas, the official residence of L-G Kiran Bedi.
Highlights
In a letter to Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy listed a few decisions taken by the former which have affected various cross sections of communities and all public in general. After listing the cases, he said, "The above actions by your goodself are clear cases which are unconstitutional, illegal and wanton acts to stop development works in Puducherry to bring disrepute to the democratically elected Congress and DMK alliance Government in Puducherry. Therefore, I request your goodself to take corrective measures immediately to set right your unconstitutionaI and illegal way of functioning and respond to my letter in respect of the anomalies/illegalities created by you and thereby creating anarchic situation in this state."
Taking a dig at PM Modi, Deputy CM Sisodia said, "People elect state governments to look into their affairs. But the PM tries to make them defunct through LG. This is the only achievement of Modi in the last five years."
Taking to the micro-blogging site, the Puducherry CM thanked his Delhi counterpart for his support. He said, "I thank Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia for visiting our dharna and expressed solidarity with the people of Puducherry for fighting against the dictatorship and undemocratic functioning of the Lieutenant Governor."
Upon his arrival in Puducherry, CM Kejriwal met Narayanasamy and expressed solidarity with the people of the Union Territory. "UT status to Del n Puducherry is an injustice to their people. We will fight together for full statehood," he said.
Thsi morning, Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy was quoted as saying by ANI: "Today, a three member Congress delegation will meet Rajnath Singh and apprise him of the situation. We want the central government to take action immediately."
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia are going to Puducherry today to support CM V Narayanasamy's agitation against L-G Kiran Bedi. The visit comes weeks after Kejriwal said he was “eager” for an alliance with the Congress for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Like his Puducherry counterpart, Kejriwal also had several run-ins with L-G Anil Baijal in Delhi. Incidentally, Kejriwal defeated Bedi in the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections — she was BJP’s chief ministerial candidate.
DMK chief M K Stalin met Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy on Sunday in Puducherry. Stalin saud that the Centre should recall L-G Kiran Bedi as she is "autocratically" impeding implementation of welfare schemes in the Union Territory. He added that she is behaving like a "dictator" and "trampling" democracy, reported PTI.
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy has been agitating against L-G Kiran Bedi since last Wednesday. He is protesting her "negative stand" towards the Congress government. He claims Bedi has stalled multiple decisions by the state government and “blocking crucial files”. Further, the CM and L-G are also at loggerheads over the latter's decision to mandate helmets for two-wheeler riders. Bedi, who is currently in Delhi, is scheduled to return to Puducherry tomorrow.
L-G Kiran Bedi stops riders to enforce her helmet rule in Puducherry on Sunday, February 10, 2019. Her helmet rule was to come into force on February 11. (PTI Photo)
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia will visit Puducherry today, where Chief Minister V Narayanasamy is holding an indefinite dharna against L-G Kiran Bedi. The duo are expected to reach around noon. A day before their visit, Kejriwal tweeted: "The people of Delhi are in complete solidarity wid the people of Puducherry. Why are the people of Delhi and Puducherry being denied democracy even 70 years after independence?" Like his Puducherry counterpart, Kejriwal also had several run-ins with L-G Anil Baijal in Delhi.