PUDUCHERRY:
Chief minister
V
Narayanasamy
on Tuesday denied
lieutenant governor Kiran Bedi’s allegation that he did not receive approval for his
foreign visit
from the competent authority.
Addressing a press conference, Narayanasamy said he informed the Prime Minister on his foreign visit along with revenue minister M O H F Shahjahan and DMK MLA R Siva, who is the chairperson of Pondicherry Industrial Promotion Development and Investment Corporation Limited (Pipdic).
He said the three wrote to the Prime Minister on October 24 informing him about their private visit to Singapore to participate in an investors’ meet to attract more foreign investments in Puducherry. He said they also wrote to the Union external affairs ministry to inform about their visit to Singapore and it accorded
political clearance
for their visit on October 29. “The expenses for the visit, including travel and stay, were fully borne by us. We also submitted the itinerary of our visit to the chief secretary and director general of police. We followed all rules and regulations to visit Singapore,” Narayanasamy said and added he was saddened to note that Bedi without knowing the facts levelled charges against him.
“I served as a Union minister of state and I am aware of the protocol to be followed by the ministers, MPs, chief ministers, state ministers and MLAs. We followed the protocol. Singapore like Puducherry has just 13-14lakh population but has registered tremendous growth in all sectors. The previous governments in Puducherry did not initiate any efforts to transform it into a prosperous place. Our government has launched such initiatives but faces several stumbling blocks. I will let the people decide who is stalling the development of Puducherry,” he said.
Start a Conversation
Post comment