CM Rangasamy reiterates demand for Puducherry Statehood in Assembly
Chief Minister N Rangasamy on Thursday reiterated the demand for statehood for Puducherry, which has been a Union Territory since the merger of the former French establishments with the Indian Union in 1962.
He was replying to the views expressed by the opposition DMK members R Siva and A M H Nazeem that the demand for statehood should be pressed without let-up. The CM said, “Want of powers for the elected Government in the present constitutional status of Puducherry by remaining a Union Territory has been a major blockade for the elected ministry to take decisions fast and to implement the programmes.”
Rangasamy further said his party would fall in line provided there is a collective consensus among all the legislators and political parties on the statehood issue.
According to him, the Union Territory had witnessed greater development in the last five years despite several struggles and difficulties that arose because of the want of powers to the elected ministry.
“As today’s assembly session was the last one for the five-year-long House, I really feel fully satisfied with meeting the aspirations and expectations of the people with the cooperation of all sections,” the Chief Minister added. Rangasamy highlighted that the Centre has allocated Rs 200 crores for Puducherry to develop rural roads and noted that his government has also hiked monthly pensions under various categories by Rs 500.
The Chief Minister said his government was implementing welfare schemes without showing any discrimination between constituencies held by the ruling AINRC-BJP legislators and the opposition.
“My concern is that the whole Union Territory should emerge as a fully developed segment and I have never shown any discrimination in implementing the schemes,” he said.
