Wondering whether a government exists in the Union Territory, Rajya Sabha member P Kannan said that the ‘pretensions’ of Chief Minister Rangasamy as a ‘big shot’ have disappeared and he had proved that he was just a ‘zero’ and a ‘paper tiger’.
Addressing reporters on Monday, Kannan charged that Rangasamy, who functioned first as a minister and then as a CM for 11 years, had been exposed and his government had failed miserably on all fronts. If he is unable to offer good governance, then he is just zero, the senior Congress leader said and added that Rangasamy’s current tenure would be remembered as the dark period in the history of the Union Territory, he said.
Condemning the Chief Minister for blaming the Centre for the financial crunch, he said the government failed to ensure overall development, including infrastructure, providing salary for employees of the PSU undertakings, ensuring the continued functioning of Anglo-French Textile Mills and employment opportunities for the youth.
Like late Congress leader Kamaraj, who gave six months time to the elected DMK government, Congress would also give six months time to the Rangasamy government to set things right. Kannan informed that his party would agitate against the State government if Rangasamy fails to resolve the issue.
Earlier, he said the Congress would unite and face the Lok Sabha elections, the talks for which are abuzz among the political parties. There may be difference of opinions. It exists in all political parties, but it is a healthy democratic trend, he added.
On the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project, Kannan said that the fear of the local population and apprehensions about their safety could be justified.
The Rajya Sabha member asked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to hold talks with the local population for enabling the commissioning of the plant which would ease the power crisis in Tamil Nadu and ensure more power for Puducherry.
Referring to the arrest of 26 Karaikal fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy, Kannan said that the Central government was taking all steps to ensure their release.
He said if they were not released in another few days,the Congress workers of both Tamil Nadu and Puducherry would organise agitation against the Central government.
On the Tamils issue in Sri Lanka, Kannan said that the Congress and party-led UPA government at the Centre were concerned about the safety and welfare of the Tamils there.
Kannan said the Centre, from the period of Indira Gandhi’s government, had helped the Sri Lankan Tamils. The Rajya Sabha MP, who detailed Rajiv Gandhi’s efforts, said “What is needed now is a negotiable relationship between the two countries.”