Puducherry CM Narayanasamy cites Centre's nod in two matters, seeks Bedi's resignation

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today demanded the resignation of Lt Governor Kiran Bedi on moral grounds, saying the Centre has overruled her decisions in two important matters which meant it has lost faith in her.

"The Centre while approving our decisions had also disagreed with Kiran Bedi`s negative stand on the matters," he told reporters here.

He claimed that the Union Home Ministry had approved the decisions of the elected government in the matters of waiver of crop loans taken from cooperative societies and extending the term of office of chairpersons of seven state-run undertakings in the union territory.

In both cases, Bedi had rejected the cabinet's decisions and when the government approached the Union Home Ministry the latter approved them, he added.

In the loan waiver matter, the Centre approved the decision but said it would not sanction any fund to compensate the cooperative societies for the loans written off, he said.

The decision to waive the loan was taken by an elected government, he said, adding: "Bedi nominated by the Centre does not have power or authority to reject our decision."

He said Bedi imposed certain conditions for extension of the term of office of the chairpersons which were "not legally valid".

On a representation by his government, the Centre in December last gave its nod for the extension of the term of the chairpersons, Narayanasamy said adding a letter to this effect was received from the Home Ministry yesterday.

"Thus, Bedi has thus earned displeasure of the Centre. Therefore, she should quit," he said.

The Congress government headed by Narayanasamy and Bedi, a BJP leader and a former IPS officer, have been at loggerheads on various issues ever since she assumed office in May, 2016.

The Congress has demanded the recall of Bedi in the past.