Don't waste money on celebrating my birthday: V Narayanasamy

Puducherry: Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy, who appealed to his well wishers and supporters not to waste money by putting up banners and hoardings to greet him on his birthday and instead contribute the amount to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, on Saturday said that a sum of Rs 3 lakh has been credited to the relief fund in response to his request. The money would be used for a public cause, including to pay for the medical expenses of poor people," he said while talking to reporters here.

He also thanked the party workers for removing the banners erected as part of the birthday celebrations as per his direction.  Narayanasamy's birthday day falls on May 30. The Chief Minister also appealed to the affluent sections of people, including Ministers, MLAs and officials opt out of various freebies provided to all ration card holders so that the money can be reached to the people who are needy.

Freebies are now being issued without any income criteria. The government is planning to issue green colour ration cards for those who voluntarily opt out of the freebies, he added.

‘Govt should not interfere in food habits of people’

Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy on Saturday responded sharply to the BJP government's decision to ban sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter, saying that  governments do not have the right to interfere in the food habits of people.

In the strongly-worded statement the Chief Minister said that it is the choice of people what they should eat and the decision to ban cow slaughter is 'autocratic '. Like many other states in the country, in Puducherry also  beef is part of the daily menu.

The Union Territory  has close links with French culinary practices which makes its residents consumers of meat, said the Chief Minister. He requested the Centre to repeal the ban.