Bedi invites Puducherry minister for discussion

Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi today invited Welfare Minister M Kandasamy for a discussion "on any day" after he alleged that she was functioning in an "autocratic manner".
In a letter to Chief Minister V Narayanasamy yesterday, the minister had said he would stage a fast in front of parliament against the Centre for "not taking any steps to rein in Lt Governor Kiran Bedi" who, he alleged, was functioning in an "autocratic manner."
Bedi today invited him for a discussion "on any day and at any time" before he went ahead with his protest.
She said the issues he had raised in his letter have been addressed in different files of the government.

"With limited resources available to the government, we are for spending for the needy and for right expenditure and not otherwise," Bedi said.
"You are most welcome to discuss with me on the issues raised in your letter at any time on any day at Raj Nivas," she said in a letter to the minister, a copy of which was released to the media via WhatsApp.

She said she would ask the secretary to finance to be present to give required inputs.
Kandasamy had referred to "difficulties" his departments had been facing allegedly since the present government was formed last year.

He alleged it was due to the "negative stand of Kiran Bedi in approving various decisions taken by the Cabinet to benefit farmers and other sections of people."
In his letter, Kandasamy had said he would inform the people in his constituency and stage a fast in front of Parliament in the next two months to condemn "the silence of the central government" which, he alleged, has not taken any steps to rein in Bedi who is functioning in an "utterly autocratic manner".
He had alleged that Bedi was adopting "an anti-government" stance and the finance secretary had also been acting on the advice of the Lt Governor to turn down files relating to several welfare measures formulated by his department.

Bedi said the issues he had raised in his letter have been addressed in different files of the government.
The minister's letter came a day after Bedi shot off a letter to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, seeking action against the Puducherry Adi Dravidar Development Corporation.
Bedi said she had received a complaint from Puducherry-based Rajiv Gandhi Human Rights Organisation, alleging that the corporation had "wasted Rs 6.3 crore meant for the welfare of the Scheduled Caste people by erecting high-mast lamps at 175 centres in nine Assembly constituencies where it is not essential."
In a separate whatsapp message to the media today, Bedi said she would be happy to show him (Kandasamy) "very interesting evidence I have before I may decide to send it to Central Vigilance Commission or the CBI on diversion of funds, although I have already informed the Vice Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes of the diversion of funds at the cost of money for scholarships."

Bedi, who has been at loggerheads with the government on several issues, said a discussion with her on issues raised by him would help him understand matters concerning people "whose causes he proclaims to espouse.