Pondy MLAs urge Centre to recall Lt Governor Kiran Bedi

Participating in a debate set in motion by AIADMK’s A Anbalagan after the Vote on Account Bill was passed by voice vote on the opening day of the two-day Assembly session, the MLAs wanted the House to adopt a resolution to urge the Centre to recall Bedi. 

Anbalagan alleged that the Lt Governor delayed the approval of cabinet decisions once they were placed before her and added that this affected the development works in the union territory. 

Congress legislators K Lakshminarayanan and RKR Anandaraman also criticised Bedi and urged for a resolution to persuade the Centre to recall the former IPS officer. 

The members also sought action against Municipal Commissioner R Chandrasekaran, who they alleged was acting on Bedi’s ‘directives’ to ‘disrespect’ them and the government. 

Recently, a meeting was held by the Commissioner with the members of self-help groups in Mudaliarpet without informing AIADMK’s A Baskar, the local MLA. 

The Commissioner had also lodged a police complaint against Baskar after he raised questions about the meeting. 

Anbalagan said the MLA has approached the Privileges Committee seeking action against the Commissioner for holding the meeting without informing him. 

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said whenever any such event was held, it was the duty of the officers to inform the legislator concerned and associate him or her with it. In response to an appeal for a resolution to urge the Centre for recalling Bedi, Speaker Vaithilingam asked Anbalagan to table it in the House for consideration. 

Regarding the Municipal Commissioner approaching the police with a ‘false complaint’ against a legislator, he directed the government to replace him and keep him under compulsory wait till the privilege issue was disposed of.