Piyush Goyal slams AINRC govt

Puducherry, May 12: Accusing the Rangasamy-led AINRC government of not running a "clean" administration, Union Minister Piyush Goyal today claimed that only BJP would measure up to the expectations of the people for an "honest" and "transparent" government.

Puducherry had witnessed in the past rule by DMK, AIADMK and Congress and now by AINRC and none of these parties had provided a clean administration, Goyal alleged.

"People had come to feel that there should be a change in dispensation and BJP alone would measure up to their expectations of a honest, corruption-free and transparent administration," he said.

The Minister said only a BJP government would work in tandem with the Centre under the leadership of Narendra Modi to provide "development, good governance in Puducherry and also to fulfil all promises."

"We will strengthen the power infrastructure in the Union Territory and ensure uninterrupted round-the-clock electricity supply if BJP is voted to power in Puducherry," Goyal said. He said presently Puducherry is depended on the Centre to meet its total power needs.

"It is time Puducherry became a self-sufficient state in power sector through generation of power through conventional and renewable energy sources. We will develop solar and wind energy..." On the fishermen issue, he highlighted the Centre's and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's efforts in securing release of 13 Puducherry fishermen from Sri Lanka last year.

BJP-led NDA government would continue to protect security of fishermen and would also offer them training for deep-sea fishing so that they can augment their income, he added.

Goyal asked the Election Commission to ensure that the candidates contesting the polls here and also voters were provided security and safety as "opponents are using muscle and money power" to fight the elections. He claimed that voters in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala were "crying for a change". BJP is fighting the polls on its own in the Union Territory.

PTI