Protest forces Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy to leave event in a huff

PUDUCHERRY: After Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi, it was Chief Minister V Narayanasamy’s turn to face protests. In a function organised by the  Social Welfare Department to mark International Day of Disabled Persons here on Sunday, persons with disabilities (PwDs) took exception to the Chief Minister’s speech, where he said 259 PwDs got jobs in Puducherry government departments and organisations under the 3 per cent job quota provided by the UT government.

The participants claimed that no one got job in the government departments or organisations under the differently-abled quota. They also complained aloud that no assistance was properly given to them and said that even rice was distributed only once in six months.

Police and officials tried to pacify them, but the participants continued to shout anti-government slogans, making Narayanasamy leave the function halfway through. Later, Social Welfare Minister M Kandasamy heard the grievances of the PwDs. The minister also presented State awards to 23 PwDs during the event.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, CM said PwDs met him and demanded that they be provided with jobs. “We will take action and also demand that the Central government waive the `8 crore loan taken by them from various banks,” he said. He said once in six months, grievance meeting will be held to look into the issues raised by them.