Kiran Bedi explains ‘constraints’ in serving Pondy to Home Minister

“Called on Hble UHM @rajnathsingh Apprised him of constraints and challenges being encountered in serving Puducherry,” she tweeted. Official sources here said Bedi, who reached Delhi last night, was scheduled to meet some more union ministers, including Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, and return to the Union Territory by Wednesday. 

Differences have cropped up between Bedi and the V Narayanasamy-led government and MLAs over her style of functioning. The matter reached a flash point in March last when a senior civic official was transferred on orders of Assembly Speaker V Vaithilingam over an alleged breach of privilege issue raised against the official by an opposition MLA. 

However, Bedi ordered the re-instatement of Commissioner of Puducherry Municipality R Chandrasekaran, saying the Lt Governor alone has powers in matters of appointment/transfer of officials of the Union Territory. The Congress and opposition MLAs had even demanded that the Centre recall Bedi for ‘disrespecting’ the government, MLAs and delaying development works, a charge denied by her.

Bedi, who assumed office in May last year, was earlier irked by ‘lack of cooperation’ to her Clean Puducherry Mission. Last year, the former IPS officer had even threatened she would quit her post and leave the Union Territory if there was no improvement in the situation.