<p class="title">The battle between Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and Lt Governor Kiran Bedi showed no signs of an ending on Sunday with both of them dashing off letters to each other and imposing pre-conditions for their scheduled meeting which was cancelled at the last minute.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Sunday also saw Narayanasamy receiving support from DMK president M K Stalin and VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, who met him personally outside the Raj Nivas where the chief minister has been holding a dharna for the past five days.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Stalin and Thirumavalavan demanded that the Centre immediately recall Bedi alleging that she has been "autocratically" impeding implementation of welfare schemes evolved by the elected government in Puducherry.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bedi, who cut short her visit to Delhi and returned to Puducherry on Sunday, invited Narayanasamy for a meeting at 6 pm, but the chief minister imposed a few conditions at the last-minute leading to cancellation of the appointment.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“HCM lays down conditions of accepting d invitation to attend any discussions. Such as: where we must meet, how should the meeting be conducted, who & who not must be present. His reasons for continuing the agitation is obviously for reasons other than what he’s claiming. Matter over,” Bedi tweeted.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After the meeting was cancelled, Narayanasamy declared that his protest would continue, and he will not budge from his stand.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Monday would be interesting since Bedi’s bete noire and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is expected to visit Puducherry and express support to Narayanasamy.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The latest showdown between the top functionaries of the Union Territory was on mandatory helmets.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Though the government wanted the rule to be implemented in phases after creating awareness among the public, the L-G went ahead with it and was even seen enforcing the rule by stopping people on two-wheelers and asking them to wear the safety gear on major roads in the city.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Narayanasamy has accused Bedi of interfering in issues like distribution of free rice, recruitment of teachers and payment of salaries to teachers working in aided schools.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The two have been sparring over several issues— the L-G says she has absolute rights over administration of the UT, while the chief minister says only the elected government has been vested with the powers.</p>
<p class="title">The battle between Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and Lt Governor Kiran Bedi showed no signs of an ending on Sunday with both of them dashing off letters to each other and imposing pre-conditions for their scheduled meeting which was cancelled at the last minute.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Sunday also saw Narayanasamy receiving support from DMK president M K Stalin and VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, who met him personally outside the Raj Nivas where the chief minister has been holding a dharna for the past five days.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Stalin and Thirumavalavan demanded that the Centre immediately recall Bedi alleging that she has been "autocratically" impeding implementation of welfare schemes evolved by the elected government in Puducherry.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bedi, who cut short her visit to Delhi and returned to Puducherry on Sunday, invited Narayanasamy for a meeting at 6 pm, but the chief minister imposed a few conditions at the last-minute leading to cancellation of the appointment.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“HCM lays down conditions of accepting d invitation to attend any discussions. Such as: where we must meet, how should the meeting be conducted, who & who not must be present. His reasons for continuing the agitation is obviously for reasons other than what he’s claiming. Matter over,” Bedi tweeted.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After the meeting was cancelled, Narayanasamy declared that his protest would continue, and he will not budge from his stand.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Monday would be interesting since Bedi’s bete noire and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is expected to visit Puducherry and express support to Narayanasamy.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The latest showdown between the top functionaries of the Union Territory was on mandatory helmets.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Though the government wanted the rule to be implemented in phases after creating awareness among the public, the L-G went ahead with it and was even seen enforcing the rule by stopping people on two-wheelers and asking them to wear the safety gear on major roads in the city.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Narayanasamy has accused Bedi of interfering in issues like distribution of free rice, recruitment of teachers and payment of salaries to teachers working in aided schools.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The two have been sparring over several issues— the L-G says she has absolute rights over administration of the UT, while the chief minister says only the elected government has been vested with the powers.</p>
