: Continuing his attack on the ruling AINRC government over his unceremonious ouster,outgoing Lt Governor Virendra Kataria today voiced concern over Chief Minister N Rangasamy being surrounded by 'crooks', misguiding him and obstructing him from providing good governance.
Addressing reporters at Raj Nivas here on the eve of his departure from Puducherry after being the incumbent of the gubernatorial post for a little over a year, he said he wished the Chief Minister all the best.
"Rangasamy is a good man. But he is surrounded by crooks who are keen about obstructing him from providing good governance and establishing justice", he said.
Kataria had earlier alleged that his unceremonious ouster was plotted by the government here because of his opposition to "wrongdoings" going on in the Union Territory.
He had alleged that it was because of the Chief Minister and its Chief Secretary that he was removed as they were "very upset" with him because he was a big hindrance in their way to "plunder" the Union Territory.
He had also claimed he was asked by the Chief Secretary to be part of the "corrupt system" and alleged he tried his level best to lure him and pressurise him.
Kataria said the CM should associate the newly elected MP R Radhakrishnan in his initiative to establish good governance
He said he had planned to file a petition under the Right to Information Act with the Central authorities to get reasons for his removal from the post of Lt Governor.
"I am a lawyer and with my legal knowledge and also in consultation with my legal friends I will file a petition with the Central authorities under the RTI Act to know of the basic reasons for my removal from the post", he said.
He said though some sections had tried to prevent him from meeting the media to air his views, he had gone ahead taking the press into confidence.
Alleging that incidents of rowdyism, chain snatching, goondaism, extortion of money by anti-social elements and also sexual harassment was on the increase, he said he would not remain a silent spectator and hence had initiated some steps as part of his intention to practice what he preached.
"My honesty and intention for a fair and good governance were mistaken and I was dubbed as being keen to run a parallel government'.
He said he had kept on doing his duty as Lt Governor and as a constitutional authority in the larger interest of dispensing justice, particularly to the disadvantaged.
He alleged that the Puducherry unit of BJP, which had been attacking the AINRC government here all these years had suddenly done a U turn after becoming its ally and started attacking him "out of political convenience."
He said he had no regrets to leave Puducherry and thanked the people for their love and cooperation shown to him in his attempt to establish a just and fair government.
