Puducherry: The political arena of Puducherry is once again witnessing interesting turn of events with Chief Minister V. Narayansamy coming up with charges of corruption against Lt Governor Kiran Bedi over mobilising funds under CSR scheme, with even Opposition parties coming in strong support of the chief minister.
The Chief Minister has raised serious allegations of a ‘Himalayan scam’ about Kiran Bedi and her office collecting funds from private parties for de-silting ponds without approval by the committee headed by him under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.
Ms Bedi had appealed to private firms and individuals for financial contribution to de-silt tanks and ponds by local communities and non-governmental organisations . The Chief Minister and the Lt Governor had earlier also locked horns over the tank desiliting issue, even as
Mr Narayansamy strongly opposed the suggestion of Ms Bedi that the desiliting work of tanks has to be handed over to Eri Sanghams (local community groups).
Allegations of CM: The Chief Minister came up with allegations against Ms Bedi at a press meet on October 14.
Mr Narayasamy said he has been receiving complaints from people that Raj Nivas was calling up individuals and organisations to provide funds for desilting under the Corporate Social Responsibility plan.
The Chief Minister said that he is not sure how the money is being spent. Narayanasamy also lashed out at Ms Bedi saying that the Lt Governor had misused her position to collect the fund, bypassing rules.
Raj Nivas has opened a desk under supervision of Asha Gupta, comptroller, Raj Nivas, and Baskar, chief grievance officer, to collect the funds.
A note from the office of the Lt Governor said, “It is time for donors and us to work together. You pay the contractor in advance, we shall ensure the link for the contractor...,”addressed to Chief Secretary and all secretaries.
The Puducherry government has formed a CSR committee under the chairmanship of the chief minister for collecting the funds, but the Lt Governor had bypassed the committee and collected the amount, alleged the chief minister.
The Lt Governor denied the allegations the very same day, and said no financial transaction was happening at Raj Nivas. Terming the statements of the Chief Minister ‘wild allegations’ Ms Bedi said, “Desilting of water channels is being done by donors with help of machinery provided for 86 km of the 23 channels, which could have cost the governor over ' 10 crore. It is done by the community without any expense from the part of the government. “
On the other hand, Mr Narayanasamy alleged that Ms Bedi’s claim that there is no financial transaction at Raj Nivas is false, since it has emerged that one of the nominated legislators Mr Selvaganapathy had made financial contribution to Raj Nivas for the desiliting work. The Chief Minister had also sought a judicial inquiry into the matter.
Opposition backs CM: Making it clear that things would not be easy for Ms Bedi this time, even the AIADMK has voiced support to the Chief Minister, and has urged the Centre to order a probe into the charges leveled against Ms Bedi.
Leader of the legislative wing of AIADMK, A. Anbalagan, said that collecting funds without adopting any procedure amounted to corruption.
“The Lt Governor had already said that around Rs 85 lakh was raised for de-silting channels and ponds. Public work cannot be done without following the tender process. So, it is clear that Ms. Bedi had misused her powers,”he added.
The AIADMK had also urged the government to convene a special assembly session to discuss the matter.
The Puducherry unit of the Communist Party of India CPI(M) has also demanded a high-level probe into the matter. CPI(M) state secretary
R. Rajangam alleged that the Lt Governor had misused her power and position, and the Centre must recall her. Even the Congress legislators also sought a probe against Ms. Bedi.
Parliamentary secretary to Chief Minister K Lakshminarayanan and government whip RKR Anandaraman, urged the Chief Minister
V Narayanasamy, to begin an investigation.The leaders urged Ms. Bedi to disclose the amount of money raised, and demanded a CBI probe into the matter.
As per rules, money should be collected from individuals, institutions and firms only after checking their track record, said Mr Lakshminarayanan.
“The Lt Governor has violated the rule by collecting money from medical colleges which are under the CBI scanner. She herself had spoken against these institutions during the admission process,”the legislators alleged. They also raised allegations against Ms Bedi of trying to destroy evidences against her.
With all other political parties baying for Bedi’s blood, it was only the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which openly came in her support. Alleging that Bedi’s actions were against ‘political, legal and democratic norms’, the territorial assembly had adopted a resolution demanding the Centre to recall Ms Bedi.
Bedi refutes allegations, CM to ask Centre for probe: Continuing his attack on Ms Bedi, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, who went to Delhi had submitted a
letter to Union home minister Rajnath Singh seeking a probe into the matter. He had alleged that neither the PWD minister nor the department secretary or any other official was aware of assigning the desilting work without calling for tenders. Ms Bedi on the other hand, refuted the allegations and said that the Chief Minister was “telling lies to mislead people”. She said her office and Raj Nivas was acting only as a facilitator. In her Whatsapp message on Monday, Ms Bedi reiterated that Raj Nivas was not involved in any financial transactions.
“One the one hand, we have not paid, nor do we have the money. And we are telling lies when real work is happening and the community is paying. Are the elected
representatives not for welfare of people? If they were, they will not mislead people,” she said. She had also claimed that her efforts to make Puducherry 'water rich' has paid off.
Narayansamy, one of the senior-most leader in the Congress party who had also served as Union Minister, has once again been able to create unity among Opposition leaders against Ms Bedi, and only time would tell as to how Ms Bedi would overcome the present situation.
