Puducherry: Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayana swamy staging a protest near the Raj Nivas since three days in a trot, demanding the removal of Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi.

The Chief Minister accused the Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi of scuttling Puducherry’s development at the Centre’s behest and citing her “undemocratic style of functioning”. CM Narayanasamy, started his protest on Friday. Sleeping on Anna Salai, a kilometre away from her residence, he has been joined by many others such as Puducherry Congress chief, ministerial colleagues, and MLAs. The CPM and CPI, too, have joined his protest.

Raj Nivas, the Lieutenant Governor’s official residence, is heavily guarded by paramilitary forces. He was denied permission to carry out the protest near there citing Covid-19 restrictions. The CM also said she is now returning files, overruling the decision of the cabinet, overruling the decision of the minister. This is not the job of the Lieutenant Governor…she has no independent power or authority.” “She has no respect for law or constitution. She is the constitution herself,” he said.

CM cited examples such her alleged blocking of the government’s Pongal gift to the people, wherein, instead of the Rs1, 000 planned, only Rs200 was allowed to be disbursed. CM has appealed to Prime Minister Modi to remove Kiran Bedi from the post, because she has been stalling welfare measures. He also accused the Prime Minister and Bedi of conspiring to merge Puducherry with Tamil Nadu.