Virtually rejecting ruling Congress MLAs charge of 'dictatorial' style of functioning, Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi today asserted her approach had been to help official machinery perform and she would ensure integrity and rule of law without fear or favour till in office.
In a communication sent to PTI here titled "An open letter to fellow Puducherians", Bedi, a former IPS officer, said she had ensured 'fairness and financial prudence' as expected of her position, and her approach was not to punish but help the official machinery perform.
Eight Congress MLAs had yesterday, in a memorandum to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, accused her of "publicity mongering" and "rigidly autocratic style of functioning" and asked him to rein her.
Congress' attack came two days after Bedi cancelled the recent order of Chief Minister V Narayanasamy banning use of social media for official communication.
The CM's order was issued in the wake of Bedi suspending a Puducherry Civil Service Officer for allegedly circulating an obscene video in an official Whatsapp group, created by her.
Bedi said her approach was "not to punish but help official machinery perform and do their duties andalso to inspire and support them."
Bedi, who assumed the Lt Governor's office in May last, said she had exercised financial prudence and not allowed any diversion of funds. "Despite this I have had complaints of abuse," she said.
For the last seven months "I have tried to fulfill my responsibilities with utmost sense of responsibility and I have ensured fairness and financial prudence as expected of my position," she said.
The Lt Governor said she had 'promoted' rule of law and for her all were equal before the law howsoever mighty he or she may be.
Indicating that she would not be deterred by the attack on her style of functioning, Bedi said "As long as I have the responsibility of working here I shall ensure integrity and rule of law without fear or favour. I will strive to leave Puducherry, clean, safe and prosperous."
Stating that the Union territory had an elected assembly with legislative powers to legislate, Bedi said she was happy to support them in this as long as the law was not in conflict with Central law.
"This is my responsibility under the law... On several other matters final powers in areas of finance or service matters or policy matters as per law the final responsibility rests with me.I am fully accountable. I enjoy no immunity as Lt Governor, while State Governors do enjoy. This is because I am an Administratorof the Union Territory also," she said.
Bedi, who had been interacting with officials directly
besides through social media and also undertaking field visits to oversee implementation of swachch bharat scheme, said she had tried to bring about co-ordination among the ranks and all departments.
"We shall continue to do so and I have more plans to strengthen it," the Lt Governor said adding she had also made attempts to mentor and groom and inspire public officials to dotheir duties in a better way.
Her office, Raj Nivas, had also been opened up to common people to get their long standing problems sorted out.
"Raj Nivas is not not a post office but a decisive office. We succeeded in bringing out solutions by spending mornings over the week end by visiting problem areas to bring about solutions,"she said.
