Congressmen criticise own government

PUDUCHERRY: At a time when Assembly elections are at the doorstep, the Congress government in Puducherry is going all out projecting its achievements and distributing doles. But, the party fin
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PUDUCHERRY: At a time when Assembly elections are at the doorstep, the Congress government in Puducherry is going all out projecting its achievements and distributing doles. But, the party finds itself cornered and embarrassed with its own men criticising the government. At two different functions held recently, both Government Whip P Angalan and Speaker R Radhakrishnan criticised the government on the very subject of welfare that the government is harping on to earn brownie points over its rivals.

Angalan was critical of Welfare Minister M Kandasamy at a government function organised by the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department at Villianur on Monday. He talked about the delay in distribution of welfare assistance to Adi Dravidar beneficiaries.

Radhakrishnan, on the other hand, found fault with the government on similar lines during the release of a book on Harijans and their problems, written by veteran CPI leader V Subbiah and translated by R Ramamurthy in Tamil.

Angalan, who lost his ministership to Kandasamy following a controversy a few years ago, started off by taking on Kandasamy for arriving at the venue three-and-a-half hours behind schedule. He criticised Kandasamy for non-distribution of second instalment of housing subsidy even after 16 months. Though there was no dearth of funds under Adi Dravidar Housing Scheme, the sanctioning of the same was kept pending.

Angalan said people suffered as the subsidy was not provided even when the prices of steel and cement were going up. Though it was announced that fertilizers would be procured through the Co-operative Department, it was not done.

“In the past five years, no beneficiary was selected from my constituency under the free patta distribution scheme. The minister took interest in only announcing schemes, and not implementing them,” Angalan noted. He objected to the mass distribution of welfare assistance to beneficiaries from various constituencies at one venue and insisted  that the distribution should be done constituencywise and by giving the elected MLAs their due credit.

Radhakrishnan asked the government what prevented it from distributing the free set of clothings, usually given twice a year to the poor. He said if procuring was a problem, then cash could be given for the same. The farmers were in difficulty due to non-availability of fertilizer. The government-owned Pondicherry Agro Service and Industries Corporation Limited was more interested in liquor trade and crackers sale instead of providing fertilizer. Agricultural labourers who got 100 days work under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act remained jobless in the remaining period as agricultural activities were shrinking. The state of affairs is such that even if one approaches a government office, work could not be done due to paucity of funds, Radhakrishnan said.

The criticism was not limited to Puducherry. In a recent meeting chaired by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram at Karaikal, former Congress MLA R Kamalakannan said that despite the government introducing several good schemes, the benefits were not reaching the people of Karaikal.

While these Congressmen are defending it as constructive criticism, it will have a negative impact on the government’s claims. “If I do not criticise government for its lapses, how could I face the people. I have to convince the people that I am taking up their cause. If I do it behind closed doors in the minister’s office, who would know? “ Angalan wondered.

The criticism from its own MLAs could not be seen as just the outcome of inner party conflict. The emergence of two to three leaders in several constituencies has put Congress in a dilemma.

Also, Rangasamy with a considerable hold in three constituencies has been maintaining distance from party activities. His supporters who floated several welfare forums was found to be very active in the last few days in reaching out to the people. Whether Rangasamy will remain in the Congress for the Assembly election or float a party and bring to fold several unhappy partymen remains a key question.

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