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Yanam MLA opposes statehood for Pondy

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, SEPT. 6. The Independent legislator from Yanam (an enclave of the Union Territory of Pondicherry in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh), Malladi Krishna Rao is dead set against the move of the Rangasamy-led Congress Government to get statehood for Pondicherry.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr. Rao (who supports the Government from outside) said he would leave for Delhi tomorrow to seek a meeting with the President, the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister and the Union Home Secretary to persuade them not to concede the plea for statehood.

Once statehood is sanctioned, the outlying regions of Mahe and Yanam would be dismantled and merged with Kerala and Andhra Pradesh respectively, Mr. Rao said; not only that, development would take a backseat if Pondicherry became a state.

As a Union Territory, the Centre gave Rs. 550 crores for annual plan expenditure. If it becomes a state, Pondicherry would lose Rs 250 crores as the plan allocation would go down considerably.

Asserting that a referendum should be held to ascertain the wishes of people, the MLA said the Treaty of Cession through which Pondicherry became part of the Indian Union in 1954 would also be violated if the Government persisted in its efforts to get statehood. There was a specific clause in the Treaty that before effecting any constitutional change in Pondicherry and its administrative set up there should be a referendum.

He said he would mobilise the people to resist statehood for Pondicherry.

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