Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy continued his agitation against Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi in front of the Raj Nivas on Thursday, even as the L-G left for New Delhi.
As the Chief Minister and Ministers started assembling at the protest site after taking a small break to freshen up, the Lt. Governor, escorted by Rapid Action Force personnel, left for Chennai around 7.45 a.m. After attending a function in Chennai, Ms. Bedi left for New Delhi and will remain there till February 20. On her request, nearly 430 paramilitary personnel were deployed in and around the Raj Nivas late on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister, along with Cabinet colleagues and MLAs, on Wednesday launched an indefinite dharna to protest against Ms. Bedi’s “dictatorial” style of functioning.
MLAs belonging to the DMK and the VCK and leaders belonging to the Left parties joined the agitation.
Sleeps on the road
The protesters, including the Chief Minister, spent Wednesday night sleeping on the road in front of the Raj Nivas. The Chief Minister went to the nearby Legislative Assembly complex for morning ablutions and resumed the agitation along with others.
Mr. Narayanasamy told reporters that they would spend Thursday night at the protest venue and will take a final call on Friday on the future course of action as the Lt. Governor had decided to be away from Raj Nivas.
Accusing Ms. Bedi of spreading “lies” about the protest, the Chief Minister said the agitation was not because of her decision to make helmet wearing mandatory. “It is only a trigger as she has not consulted the elected government before announcing the date. For the last two-and-a-half years she has been taking unilateral decisions without consulting the elected government,” he said.
The Lt. Governor had always taken a contrary stand on matters approved by the Cabinet, he said.
The Chief Minister said in a letter to the Lt. Governor on February 7 he had listed 39 decisions of hers which affected the smooth functioning of the government.
Her “adamant” stand had led to delay in payment of salary to thousands of people working in cooperative societies and public sector undertakings.
Since the Lt. Governor had not given financial nod for salary payment, the workers were without wages for the last several months, he added.
Her interference in the day-to-day administrative matters had delayed implementation of welfare schemes, including free rice distribution, and development work, the Chief Minister added.