Puducherry Political Drama: CM stages protest outside Raj Bhawan against Kiran Bedi

Puducherry Chief Minister Velu Narayanasamy on Wednesday staged a protest outside the Raj Bhawan wearing black clothes urging the Central government to recall Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi alleging she was misusing her powers and also interfering in the day-to-day activities of the state government. He urged that helmet enforcement rule by Puducherry director general of police S Sundari Nanda be taken up in a phased manner in the state.

In a tweet, Narayanasamy alleged that Bedi had not yet resolved 39 pending issues which were raised and sent to her, including the release of funds, payment of salaries and approval of projects.

Earlier, Kiran Bedi criticised Narayanasamy for stalling enforcement of helmet rule.Â

"When there's no culture of wearing a helmet in Puducherry and its CM keeps stalling enforcement and every 3rd day there's a fatal accident, due to non-wearing of a helmet, where does one begin? Give up or take it in one's own hands as well, alongside challenging enforcement agencies?" she wrote on Twitter on February 10.

Puducherry CM V. Narayanasamy protests outside Raj Bhawan wearing black clothes urging the Central govt to recall Governor Kiran Bedi. He urged that helmet enforcement rule by DGP be taken up in a phased manner in the state. pic.twitter.com/CLu3ErQ6Mj

— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2019

In a bid to raise awareness on road safety, Bedi turned a traffic cop during the National Road Safety Week. During the campaign on the busy Puducherry-Villupuram main road, Bedi stopped two-wheelers and asked them to wear helmets. A video on Twitter shows the LG stopping a man who was riding a motorcycle with a woman and two children. She warned him against it saying, “All four will fall”.

"Such a violation of traffic rules will not be tolerated," Bedi - the country's first female IPS office - added.

She also spotted an overcrowded auto-rickshaw and warned its driver, besides asking some passengers to get off. She also asked every police personnel to check motorists and ensure that traffic rules are followed. National Road Safety Week was celebrated in the country between February 4 and February 10.