Puducherry: Ruling alliance in Puducherry stages protest seeking recall of Lt Governor in Puducherry. The alliance began four-day long agitation against Lt Governor Kiran Bedi for allegedly "impeding developmental plans and welfare measures of the elected government".
The Congress led Secular Democratic Alliance (SDA) under Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, the lone Lok Sabha Member from Puducherry V Vaithilingam, Congress legislator T Jayamoorthy, leaders of the CPI, CPI(M) and VCK, MDMK have been participating in the protest. However, the ally of ruling congress party DMK is not present in Friday's protest.
Thousands gathered on Friday in the mass protest demonstration rally against Kiran Bedi from near Sudeshi mill, new bus stand Puducherry to Governor's office in morning.
Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, who took part in the agitation, alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bedi "hatched a conspiracy to dismantle the separate status of Puducherry by merging it with Tamil Nadu."
He accused the Prime Minister and Bedi of being keen on depriving the people of Puducherry of their rights.
This is not for the first-time legislators and party cadres organizing protest call against Kiran Bedi.
Earlier in the month of February 2019 opposition and ruling parties held protest in order to push the demands for proper operation of free rice scheme. They had also demanded the reopening of public sector undertakings and closed industries. Ruling party cadres called Friday protest as 'Second time agitation against fascist rule'.
Cadres alleged that "Bedi is disturbing the government which is elected by the people in Puducherry".
Madhyamam contacted Siva Chandiran, VCK student leader from Puducherry and said that "Kiran Bedi has been continuously disturbing the state machinery of Pondicherry.It seems she is operating a counter government against the present congress government which is elected by the people. Because of Kiran Bedi the people of Pondicherry are suffering.She is not even allowing the government to work properly.She is mostly rejecting the files which is approved by the Minister's cabinet. Her activities are against the state autonomy. VCK believe in state autonomy. Therefore, we are opposing Bedi for systematically violating the rights of Pondicherry stategovernment".
More than 500 Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi cadres have been participating in this protest under the leadership of Deva Pozhilan, State Secretary, VCK Pondicherry.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday Purva Garg, Puducherry District Magistrate imposed regulatory measures to ban all the protests that happening in Union territory without prior permission from magistrate office.
As per the order dated back Wednesday, the administration will not allow anyone to conduct demonstrations, rally and agitation within 500m establishments Bedi's official residence, Raj Nivas, Legislative Assembly, Chief secretariat and Police headquarters. The protest venue was thus shifted to Maraimalai Adigal Salai (more than a km away) as police did not give permission in view of the order in force .
Earlier on January Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanaswamy had submitted a memorandum to G Krishna Reddy, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs against Lt Governor by calling the 'obstructionist' attitude of Kiran Bedi and told she is hampering the growth of UT.
Protestors gathered in New bus stand raised slogans and placards on 'Go back Bedi' hashtag. Cadres are planning to continue the agitation till their demands are met.
The Centre had already deployed the Central Armed Police Force and the Central Industrial Security Force personnel at vantage points to maintain law and order.