PUDUCHERRY:E V K S Elangovan is at it again. After being reprimanded by the Congress high command for sniping at one from within -- former Union Minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti -- to his rather flippant remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, the former TN Congress Committee president on Thursday made a nasty remark against Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a private function here, Elangovan said, “A person who should be sent to Kilpauk Medical College (in Chennai) has been posted as Puducherry Lt Governor by Narendra Modi.” Kilpauk is a colloquial metaphor for mental asylum.
Going a step further, he said, “Even if several Kiran Bedis are sent to Puducherry, they can’t do anything to Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, who has the full support of people.”
Elangovan took a swipe at the BJP also. “The BJP can never create a Congress-less India. If they want to do it, they have no option but to rule the Arabian Sea,” he said.
Though the remark stirred a hornet’s nest, Narayanasamy feigned ignorance. “Without knowing about it (the remark), how can I comment?” the Chief Minister said.
Even one-time Congressman and All India NR Congress president N Rangasamy remained tight-lipped on the issue. The Leader of the Opposition said he was not aware of the remark and refused to be drawn into any controversy.
Putting the ball in Bedi’s court, AIADMK (Amma) faction leader A Anbazhagan said, “It is for the Lt Governor to reply to the remark.” However, he added that Bedi also had been making several improper remarks against MLAs and ministers, to the extent of calling them “foul eggs in high positions” in her tweet.
The CPI expressed displeasure over Elangovan’s remark. “As per our party policy, no personal attacks can be accepted. Our stand has been only against her improper functioning,” said CPI State secretary R Viswanathan.
BJP State president V Saminathan said they will file a public interest litigation against Elangovan. “I suspect whether he would have made this remark had he been sober,” he quipped.
Reacting sharply, Probir Banerjee of the Alliance for Good Governance said, “If anyone makes such irresponsible statement, I think he needs to take some treatment.”