Puducherry: Amid the ongoing tussle between the Puducherry Lt Governor and the elected representatives , LG Kiran Bedi shot off a letter to the members of the Union Territory assembly as they were making 'continuous allegations against the Lt Governor and her office. Clearly mentioning the day to day affairs of the Lt Governor's office, Ms Bedi asked the MLA's to make it clear "What is the Office of the Lt Governor doing on a regular basis which is annoying the elected representatives here, as they are making several allegations. What is that the LG office is doing which is not strictly called public service and causing annoyance? " Ms Bedi asked.
Hitting back with equal power to the allegations raised by the Chief Minister and other legislators that the Lt Governor is delaying the files without giving approval, Ms Bedi that asked to prove it apart from ' just alleging'. "When files are examined properly, then queries may arise, amendments will be proposed, discussions will be called for, and difference of opinion can occur, most of the files are cleared, It's the very few which need more information. Do not just allege, show it," she said.
Ms Bedi reminded the government that as per the law and rules the last word is that of the LG and asked the Chief Minister and his cabinet to respect the powers of the Lt Governor instead of trying to preclude it. "In several files, the honourable Chief Minister has been writing in his own handwriting asking officers 'not to meet the LG', or LG 'don't interfere' and even worse, comments not worth mentioning, alleged the Lt Governor.
Responding sharply to the directions of the Chief Minister not to encourage field visits of the Lt Governor in constituencies, Ms Bedi said that every Lt Governor has got the freedom to move in their own region. "It's fine if it is to the beaches and restaurants, perhaps; not if it is to the filthy drains and choked ponds", she said. Cornering the legislators, the Lt Governor asked why the people are trying to meet the Lt Governor for solving grievances and not the elected representatives. Ms Bedi complained that the elected representatives and senior officials are declining to join the LG for field visits even if they are invited, and in that case, the only solution was to move on instead of waiting for them.
The Lt Governor's office is asking the elected representatives and officials go work hard, be careful with public money, be fair, just and prompt, be courageous and forthright and if you cheat you have to be punished which is annoying them. Ms Bedi also asked the public to remain responsible and sensitive to advise the elected representatives correctly, verbally and on file rightly.
Apart from dissipating and distracting the energy, impacting the administration as a whole, she asked the legislators to work together for the betterment of the Union Territory. In another Whatsapp message the Lt Governor reiterated the need for independent investigation agency and a High Court bench in the Union Territory.
Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) here is also the Chief Secretary, which is clearly a conflict of interest. The police are also controlled to a large extent, she said. Higher courts are away in Chennai and hence justice is denied. In a bid to protect Puducherry from future loss of resources, it is seeking independent resources of integrity for setting right systems for now and future said Ms Bedi.
