Pondy taking steps to get full statehood: Rangasamy

Puducherry, May 5 (UNI) The Puducherry administration is taking steps to get full statehood status for the Union Territory, Chief Minister N Rangasamy told the Legislative Assembly today.

Replyig to a question, the Chief Minister said the government had no idea to set up a high level committee to study and recommend amendements in the Union Territory's Act to provide more powers to the Assembly and cabinet.

However, a unanimous resolution adopted in the House in this regard on March seven last year had been forwarded to the Centre, he said.

Since the Union Government had rejected the proposal for 'special category state status,' the administration would send a delegation comprising Legislators and political party leaders to New Delhi to press for the same, he said.

CPI member R Viswanathan wanted the government to take the political party leaders which do not have representation in the House also.

Referring to the objection of Tourism Minister Malladi Krishna Rao for full statehood, Mr R Siva (DMK) alleged that there was no unity in the cabinet.

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