Pondy CM to visit Delhi on Sep 18

Puducherry, Sep 17 (UNI) Puducherry Chief Minister V Vaithilingam along with his cabinet collegues would leave for New Delhi tomorrow.

Talking to newspersons here today, Mr Vaithilingam said AICC President Sonia Gandhi had given an appointement to meet her tomorrow.

The ministerial delegation would once again apprise her of the power shortage and financial crisis in the union territory.

Stating that expenses above the estimated rates had caused the financial crunch, Mr Vaithilingam said besides seeking the required funds from the Prime Minister and Finance Minister, the delegation would also urge the Centre to write off the outstanding loan of the Union Territory to the tune of Rs 2,400 crore.

Referring to the criticism by CPI National council member R Viswanathan and his demand that the Congress government should shoulder the responsibility for the financial crisis, Mr Vaithilingam alleged that it was the Congress government which implemented several welfare schemes which led to the crisis. None could blame the Congress government for this he said adding Mr Viswanathan was criticising because the CPI was not supporting the Congress government here.

On whether the new government is contemplating to set up a coordination committee with alliance partners, Mr Vaithilingam said he was talking to the leader of the opposition and legislators of other parties and there was no necessasity for a coordination committee.

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