Puducherry should press for Special Category Status:Minister

Puducherry, May 11 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V Narayansamy today said Puducherry should press for Special Category State Status, instead of Statehood.

Talking to newspersons here, he said the financial position of Puducherry would be suitable for Special Cateogry State Status, under which, it would get 90 per cent grant and ten per cent loan.

With the amount, Puducherry should develop its infrastructure and ensure more revenue, following which Statehood could be demanded, he added.

The minister said the administration should submit a feasibility report to the Home Minister with an assurance that cooperation would be extended to him.

On the issue of Tourism Minster Malladi Krishna Rao, opposing the Government resolution on Statehood in the Assembly, Mr Narayanasamy said Mr Malladi had expressed the views of his constituency people.

In a democracy, people have every right to express their views and it is entirely at the discretion of the concerned parties to take an appropiate decision, he added.

He alleged that Mr Rao, was opposing it under the apprehension that his Yanm constituency could be left out under Statehood or Special Category State Status for Puducherry.

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