CM committed illegality by obstructing my duties: Kiran Bedi

Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi gives her side of the story in an interview to ET. Excerpts:

Is your differences with the CM a clash of personalities or dispute over administrative domain?
As I understand, they are caught in their internal political compulsions. Their propositions are politically coloured with several narrow hidden agenda. They read rules of business, selectively. It’s a clash of needs. Theirs are time serving, mine are based on rules and regulations. I do not know anyone personally here. I go by performance. They go by preferences. Since I am the final clearing house in several decisions, they find me not obliging. This is ‘hostile’ and ‘obstructive’ for them. Their requirement is to have an endorser who pleads for them to get them money sans performance from the Centre.

What about the contention that LG must go by advice of the Government of UT?
The CM has committed a grave illegality by obstructing me from carrying out my duties, ‘warning’ me of harm and blocking officers from working with me. All policy matters, postings, major financial clearances, plans, budgets, contracts, service matters have to come to me for approval. When this is the case, why not accept reality? They told me that an LG is supposed to be a rubber stamp. I conveyed this to the President who said “how could they say that?” He categorically added “I have appointed you. You are my eyes and ears.” The problem is that they wanted a rubber-stamp LG. They instead have a functioning LG.

What about the argument Puducherry LG doesn’t have powers of Delhi’s LG?
MHA has clarified on the day to day role of LG in Puducherry, but this direction was rejected.

Is the main Opposition siding with CM?
It’s only during elections that they are against each other. After that there is quite a bonhomie among themselves. They share common interests. Many of them were in the same party.

Have you also taken up the issue with the PM and HM as the CM says he has?
Yes I have written to them about the need to change the chief secretary as he is the primary reason for violation of rules of business. Instead of playing a professionally neutral role, he has gone one-sided. Once he is replaced, the administrative balance may get back. For other matters the Centre is in the loop.

How can the issue be resolved?
Either I become an endorser and compromise on financial matters and allow certain extravagance or the CM accepts that the person who he is sending the files for final approval is not a rubber stamp but applies her mind and takes responsibility of all decisions Raj Nivas takes. I am in Puducherry not for a post but serve and ensure financial prudence for a heavily debt-ridden UT with very limited capacity to raise resources.