Puducherry govt will pursue statehood with Centre, says CM Rangasamy

Puducherry: Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Wednesday said that his government will pursue statehood for the Union Territory with the Centre.

Concluding the discussions on the budget in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, CM said that statehood for Puducherry is under active consideration of the Union government.

He has promised to take up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at their meeting later in September.

Rangasamy said that Puducherry was facing several difficulties without statehood and he has always been a keen votary for statehood, and had taken up the matter with the Central government.

He also claimed to have had actively taken up the matter of statehood for the Union Territory when he was Chief Minister previously.

The Chief Minister said that a resolution for statehood would again be adopted by the Assembly and forwarded to the Central government for consideration.

CM also assured members that more financial assistance would be available for Puducherry from the next financial year, noting that it was less this financial year as the Central budget was presented earlier.

Several members had expressed their displeasure as there was only a 1.5 per cent increase in Central assistance in this financial year.

Rangasamy also told the house that he was seeking additional Central financial assistance of Rs 500 crore and it is expected to be granted.

The central assistance would be utilised to attract industrial investment, he added.