PUDUCHERRY: Firm stand against corruption and efforts to provide fair and transparent governance are what led to his ouster from the post of Lieutenant Governor, feels Virendra Kataria. “I don’t fit into the present system. I am against corruption, whatever government it may be. I have been penalised and I don’t mind,” he told reporters during an interaction at Raj Nivas on Tuesday. Kataria was removed from the position on July 11.
“When I came to Puducherry, plundering and looting was the order of the day. Corruption, extortion, chain-snatching and sexual harassment were rampant. Administration was at its lowest ebb. There was no rule of law. I tried to provide fair and transparent governance and advise the government to act as per law which did not suit them,” Kataria said. “The mantra of the government was to plunder and let others plunder. They wanted me to be a part of it too. The Chief Secretary tried his level best but I rebuked him. He and the Chief Minister were after me as I was very inconvenient to their way of governance,” the former Lieutenant Governor added.
Kataria pointed out that he had been opposed to corruption throughout his life. “I have remained honest and upright all my life. I was in jail when I was 14 years old. I was expelled from school and forced to study in Lahore. I entered politics through student movements before Independence. I even took part in the freedom struggle. I have that training,” he said.
President Pranab Mukherjee has handed additional interim charge of the Union Territory to Andaman and Nicobar Governor Ajay Kumar Singh.