Bedi, Narayanasamy in a little slugfest on power over officials

The Union Territory of Puducherry is witnessing a wordy duel between Kiran Bedi, the flamboyant Lieutenant Governor (LG) and CM V Narayanasamy. It all began on Sunday morning with Bedi making a sporty offer to Government officials that led to the Chief Minister fretting by evening.

He accused the Lieutenant Governor of threatening and frightening the Government officials by summoning them to spots she visits on Sundays and holidays and asked them not to pay heed to her instructions and commands.

In a release issued to officials on Sunday morning, Bedi had said that she would honour all officials who have attended to the civic jobs highlighted by her during her weekend rounds across Puducherry. The round undertaken by her on this Sunday was the 175th one and she has devoted the next 25 weekend rounds as revisit rounds.

“The next 25-weekend rounds shall be called revisit of sites/places already visited. Any two sites will be taken up at random and revisited. The departments concerned will be informed of the chosen site to be visited, two days before for the concerned officer to be present and explain the work done since the last visit.

“Any site showing good change shall get a recorded appreciation letter and a gift personally presented at the Raj Niwas to all who made the difference. Those not showing any satisfactory change will owe an explanation. Dependent on that rest of the required steps will follow,” said the release issued by Raj Nivas after  Sunday’s trip.

She also said that a volume on her weekend rounds is being brought out which would highlight the efforts taken by her to make Puducherry a beautiful place. Narayanasamy feels that this is an effort by her to embarrass the popularly elected government. “Kiran Bedi is threatening and frightening the government officials and she has no right to do so. She wants to portray the government of Puducherry in bad light and we will take steps to clip her wings. The Government officials need not listen to her orders as she has no power to do so,” a visibly upset Narayanasamy told the media by evening.

The LG chose the social media by Monday to retaliate. “Better sense is needed for the present and future of Puducherry.