Convene special session of Assembly on financial crisis: AIADMK

Puducherry, Jul 13 (UNI) AIADMK State Secretary A Anbazhagan, MLA, today sought the convening of a special session of the Territorial Assembly to discuss the present 'financial crisis in the union territory.' Mr Anbazhagan said, ''the tussle between Chief Minister N Rangaswamy and the Ministers is growing every day and the Ministers are now coming out openly with subjects which could be discussed in the Cabinet only.'' ''They are coming out with statements on financial crisis every day creating panic among the public here,'' he said.

Since, the Chief Minister, who could not even convene a cabinet meeting, could do nothing in convening the special session of the Assembly, Mr Anbazhagan urged the intervention of the Lt Governor in the issue.

When the Budget for 2008-09 was passed, the Union Government had permitted the Puducherry administration to get loan from external agencies to the tune of Rs 1,153 crore.

However, HUDCO and other institutuions did not come forward to extend loan as they felt Puducherry could not mobilise much revenue, he claimed adding this resulted in the present financial crisis.

To tide over the situation,the government will have to impose new taxes on the people.

''This is a drama enacted by the government to impose fresh taxes,'' he charged.

Mr Anbazhagan said the Chief Minister and the Ministers had spent Rs 65 lakh on flight tickets between Puducherry and New Delhi to sort out the tussle.

Since, none of the trips was offical, the Chief Secretary and Finance Secretary should order an enquiry and steps taken to collect the amount from the Chief Minister and his Cabinet collegues.

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