Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy has been charged by the opposition AIADMK with "taking the people for a ride" by raising the demand for statehood frequently without initiating practical steps to convince the Centre on the necessity for the statehood.
A Anbalagan, MLA, told reporters here today that mere adoption of resolutions on the floor of the assembly urging the Centre for statehood for the union territory would not be enough.
The Chief Minister should intensify his initiative by taking a joint delegation of leaders and legislators of all political parties to meet the President, Prime Minister and Home Minister and persuade them to concede the statehood plea.
He wondered whether the resolutions passed unanimously in the territorial assembly all these years to persuade the centre in this regard were brought to the notice of the Centre.
Anbalagan said the poor financial situation of Puducherry would be tackled if statehood was provided as Puducherry would be entitled to get a part of the revenue mobilised by the Centre in the Union Territory through various taxes and duties.
