Cuddalore: Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Friday held discussions with top Cuddalore district officials and took part in a cleanliness drive as part of the ‘Swacch Bharat’ initiative. His visit took place amid protests from opposition parties, including DMK and VCK, who claimed that his actions amounted to an infringement of the State’s rights. Additional security was provided in the district to maintain law and order in view of the agitation by DMK members who blocked the path to Cuddalore bus terminus and head post office. The Governor was originally to visit the new bus stand, the newly opened public toilet in Pudupalayam area and a government park.
The Governor’s plans were changed and instead he visited Vandipalayam area where Mr Puohit took part in a cleanliness drive the area by cleaning the road. He held discussions with officials on cleanliness drive, solid waste management and various government projects being implemented. The Governor faced strong protest on his way to Ambedkar Nagar, where around 300 workers of DMK, and VCK attempted to show black flags to his car near Bharathi road where the DMK office is situated. The protesters were immediately rounded up and whisked away by the police.
Mr Purohit, who continued with his visit in Ambedkar Nagar, interacted with the public about the availability of basic amenities including drinking water, electricity and roads and noted down their grievances. Cuddalore district collector Prashant M Wadnere accompanied him. The Governor, who reached the guest house around 10.30 am, held a meeting with the district Collector, the City Police Commissioner, the Corporation Commissioner and other top officials from various departments for nearly one-and-a-half hours.
He also interacted with the public and representatives of political parties and NGOs and received petitions from them. Representatives of fishermen also met him and submitted a memorandum listing their grievances and seeking his intervention to release the Tamil Nadu fishermen who are under the custody of Sri Lankan Navy. After the meeting, the governor said “everything was fine” while talking to reporters but refused to elaborate.
Former minister and DMK strongman MRK Panneerselvam, who led the protest against the Governor conducting such review meetings, charged that Purohit’s acts went against the concept of the autonomy of states. “The Governor is acting like a state minister and what he is doing now is completely against the concept of autonomy of state and federalism”, he said. Police arrested around 20 workers of CPI who protested on Chidambaram road against the Governor’s visit.
