Puducherry CM’s protest enters Day-4

Puducherry, Feb 16 (IANS) Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy's protest outside Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi's official residence entered the fourth day on Saturday.

The 71-one-year old and his ministerial colleagues have been sleeping on the road outside the Raj Nivas since February 13 when the protest started.

The protest is being carried out against Bedi for not permitting implementation of the state government's welfare schemes.

Bedi will be meeting Narayanasamy at 10 a.m. on February 21.

According to the Chief Minister, on February 18, letters will be sent to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemning Bedi and on February 20, jail filling protest would be held.

On February 21, a massive hunger protest would be held in Puducherry, he said.

"She (Bedi) is giving importance to functions organised by private bodies and not caring for the welfare of people," Narayanaswamy said.

He has demanded that the Central government recall Bedi.

Meanwhile, in a tweet on Saturday, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Kanimozhi said Narayanasamy's demand is just and the Centre should accept it, bringing the protest to an end.

She said: "It is condemnable that Bedi is trying to stall a government elected by the people."

The Tamil Nadu unit of Communist Party of India on Saturday also supported Narayanasamy's demand.

Meanwhile, Bedi on Saturday tweeting a picture of Narayanasamy and his Secretary outside her official residence said: "Is this lawful Mr CM? What if some common person had done this from outside your office -- what would you have expected the police to do? Please do that. Will local police act please?"