Rangasamy meets Rajnath, seeks statehood for Puducherry

Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy today called on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and sought statehood for the Union Territory.
"We are demanding statehood for Puducherry. It continues to be an important policy of our Government. Henceforth, we have urged the new Government at the Centre to accord statehood for the Union Territory," Rangasamy said here today.
Asked about apprehensions that statehood for Puducherry would reduce Central funding to the Union Territory, leading to imposition of higher state taxes, the Chief Minister said that it was not true.
"It happens to be a factually incorrect message, which is being spread. The reality is that we are not getting revenues that we are supposed to receive. A certain percentage of few taxes are not being allocated," he said.

He further underscored that the appropriate revenues could be generated, if Union Territory of Puducherry is bestowed with the status of statehood.
He had raised the long pending demand of statehood with Prime Minister Narendra Modi also, during his meeting with Modi yesterday.

Rangasamy also asked the Centre to increase its fund allocation for the development of the Union Territory.
He also met Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry officials over admitting students in the lone Government Medical College in Puducherry.
"I have met the additional secretary and other officials in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare seeking to allow the admission of students for the first year in Government Medical College situated at Katirkammam," he said.

Rangasamy claimed that the authorities have assured to grant approval for admissions, after the existing vacancies are filled up.