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Puducherry Assembly adopts a resolution for “full Statehood status”

PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry Assembly adopted a resolution on Wednesday seeking “full Statehood status” for the Union Territory with a view to ensuring the government implemented welfare measures without any administrative tangle. Much to the embarrassment of the Treasury Benches, the government-sponsored resolution was opposed by Tourism Minister Malladi Krishna Rao even as all the remaining 32 members, including the three nominated MLAs, supported the demand for Statehood.

Referring to some remarks made against him by members belonging to the Opposition parties, Mr.Rao said he was only echoing the views of the people in Yanam region.

Local leaders belonging to the Congress, the DMK, the AIADMK, the CPI and the CPI(M) had also opposed the demand for Statehood, he added.

Accusing the government of indulging in “doublespeak” on the issue, members belonging to the AIADMK staged a walkout.

Chief Minister N. Rangasamy said the demand for full Statehood had been raised as the government was unable to implement schemes for the benefit of the people, owing to administrative obstacles. On the doubts raised by leader of Puducherry Munnetra Congress K. Lakshminarayanan about the financial viability of Puducherry if it was made a full-fledged State, he said the Chari committee and the Chari-Ramadass committee formed by the previous governments had allayed all such apprehensions.

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