Kiran Bedi offers to discuss with ministers public issues 'any time any day'

"I only mean good to them. I am only against corruption, injustice and delays," she said.

In her WhatsApp message to the media, she said she would be "happy to remove any hurdle coming in the way of prosperity of Puducherry."

Bedi said she would be grateful if the "hurdles" (as alleged by ministers quite often) were listed out and "sent to me."

She said she would also be happy to meet the ministers and "discuss anytime any day any issue which according to them are important for them to understand their perspective."

"But if by ensuring that allegations and corruption and irregularities are investigated or enquired into is a hurdle, then the conclusion is incorrect," she said.

Bedi contended that as an administrator if she did not protect the larger interests of people of Puducherry she would be failing in her duty.

In a veiled reference to criticisms that files sent to her for approval got stuck in her office, the former IPS officer said she would also ensure that files which come to her office "are well-examined and finalised without delay."

She also pointed out that she had been making efforts to ensure that all expenditure is within the budget and for the purpose it is meant.

Bedi said that she was also trying her best to see officers with "clean record are posted at critical positions."

Reiterating that Raj Nivas (Lt Governor's residence) is "a People's Nivas", she said her office was open to people to come and seek redressal of their grievances.

Several issues and problems pending for several years are getting addressed through this initiative, she said.

Justifying her week end field visits in rural, semi-urban and urban areas to ascertain the availability of amenities to people, she said "I am in the field time to help improve matters and ensure officers too go to the field."

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy had accused Bedi of making derogatory statements against him and his ministers and threatened to sue her for defamation.

Narayanasamy had said on September 23 that a decision on filing defamation suit against Bedi would be taken after consulting with legal experts for making "baseless and derogatory statements" against him, ministerial colleagues and officials.

His statement came a day after Bedi said Puducherry had been "cleaned up" of corruption of a "gigantic scale" by the CBI this year.

Bedi was referring to the CBI filing cases against two IAS officers of Puducherry and 11 other officials on September 20 in connection with alleged irregularities in admission of students to PG courses in private medical colleges here.