Puducherry LG Kiran Bedi withdraws no rice until ODF order; updates

Bedi's directive on Saturday drew flak from all parties, here is all that you need to know about her statement

Courting controversy from all sides, Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi withheld her directive within hours on Saturday after she said that territorial government's free rice scheme would be operated in the rural areas once the local MLAs and commune panchayat commissioners certify that the villages are open defecation and garbage free.

Her decision came after her decision drew flak from various parties, who also questioned her way of governance, after which she decided to withhold the order to "avoid misreading of intention".

According to Bedi, who became Lt Governor in May 2016, no local representatives or officials of the