Separate status of Puducherry in jeopardy if AIADMK voted to power

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister V Narayanasamy alleged that Puducherry’s separate status would be ‘in jeopardy’ if AIADMK is voted to power in the May 16 Assembly polls and said the future of the Union Territory was safe in hands of Congress-DMK alliance.

“The separate status of Puducherry will be in jeopardy if AIADMK is voted to power as there is threat of merger with neighbouring states... people must ensure they back the Congress-DMK alliance to form the government for integrated development and protection of the Union territory status,” he said addressing an election rally after welcoming workers from other parties into the Congress.

He did not elaborate on the rationale behind his claim. Narayanasamy alleged that the five year AINRC rule was a ‘monumental failure’ and unemployed youth were let down. The CM was providing jobs to youth from a particular constituency‘ letting down those in other segments, he alleged.

On the fishermen’s issue, he alleged that neither the NDA government at the Centre nor the Tamil Nadu government had taken steps to secure the release of Tamil Nadu fishermen held in Sri Lankan prisons.

“When I was Union Minister I held talks with the Embassy concerned and got fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Karaikal released within days of their arrest by Sri Lankan forces.”

He said Congress-DMK would soon decide seat sharing in the UT,now that the exercise neighbouring Tamil Nadu was over. He said development of Puducherry was the top priority for the alliance.