PUDUCHERRY: Leader of Opposition V Vaithilingam on Tuesday asked the AINRC government to come out openly with the reasons requiring a change in Lieutenant Governor Virendra Kataria.
Briefing newsmen at a press conference at the Congress office on Tuesday, Vaithilingam said “If there are any grievances against the L-G, it should be taken up with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Instigating organisations to seek recall of the L-G by making allegations cannot be accepted. If there are any instances in which the L-G had returned the file without approving, the Chief Minister should specify it.”
Recalling the role played by Kataria in the welfare of the UT, he said that people welcomed the actions taken by Kataria particularly with regard to law and order. He said Kataria had taken efforts in addressing the serious law and order problems and visited the Central prison. He had taken appropriate steps to curb the crimes masterminded from the prison through cell phones. Kataria had also been instrumental in getting funds from ONGC for establishing a Superspeciality Hospital in Karaikal and Special Economic Zone, he added.
When asked whether Congress was not in favour of recalling the L-G, he said the current situation was different where his removal was being planned my making allegations. If the AINRC government wanted the L-G to be replaced, they could move politically as part of BJP alliance instead of levelling allegations indirectly.
Meanwhile, Pondicherry Engineering College Parents Association raised its voice against the demand to remove Kataria saying that it was not necessary as “He is not only guiding the government but also extending his assistance in all possible ways.” In a statement, K Kaliaperumal, president of the association, said “People would have forgotten that Kataria had brought the worsening law and order situation into control as soon as he was sworn in.”