L-G works like an agent of Modi: CM

Back to battle mode: Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy speaking at the hunger strike organised by the Congress to protest against the Centre's failure to constitute the Cauvery Management Board as directed by the Supreme Court.

Back to battle mode: Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy speaking at the hunger strike organised by the Congress to protest against the Centre's failure to constitute the Cauvery Management Board as directed by the Supreme Court.   | Photo Credit: T_Singaravelou

Says his attempts to forge a good working relationship with the L-G have come to a nought

Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy on Monday said his attempts to develop a good working relationship with Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi had not yielded positive results, alleging alleged that she continued to function as an “agent” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Participating in a hunger strike organised by the Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr. Narayanasamy said Ms. Bedi had been functioning against the interests of the ruling Congress.

Virtually negating the perception that there was a truce between the Congress and the Lieutenant Governor when the entire Cabinet attended the Republic Day reception hosted by Ms. Bedi, the Chief Minister said his party would not allow her to usurp the powers entrusted with an elected government.

Ms. Bedi had returned the file sent by the government seeking her approval for filing a contempt petition against the Union government for not constituting the Cauvery Management Board as directed by the Supreme Court.

“It was unnecessary for her to return the file as the government has been a party in the case for a long time,” he said. Mr. Narayanasamy said the government was unable to provide free rice to the poor as the file had been pending with Raj Nivas.

‘BJP rule a failure’

Predicting the downfall of Mr. Modi in the next Lok Sabha elections, he said Congress president Rahul Gandhi had taken up the task of uniting the Opposition against the BJP. The Congress would emerge victorious in the Lok Sabha polls, he added.

Terming four years of governance by Mr. Modi as a “failure,” he said the BJP’s policies had destroyed the religious and social fabric of society. Tension among religious communities had increased.

Similarly, atrocities against Dalits had increased in the last four years, he said.

Later in the day, he and the Cabinet Ministers met Ms. Bedi to discuss issues pertaining to the free rice distribution scheme.

The fast, held as part of a nationwide protest called by Mr. Gandhi against the BJP government, was attended by Minister for Public Works A. Namassivayam, Social Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy, Minister for Revenue M.O.H.F. Shahjahan, Parliamentary Secretary to Chief Minister K. Lakshminarayanan and government whip R.K.R. Anantharaman.