Puducherry CM should express regret: Kiran Bedi

Puducherry Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi on Tuesday said Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy should express regret to the UT's two Padma awardees and two other artistes from Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh for disrespecting the sanctity of a national event on Republic Day.

In a tweet on Monday, Bedi said: "They ought to express their regret to two Padma Awardees, the J&K & Arunachal Pradesh artists sent by Govt of India also. Besides to the office of Lt Gov for disrespecting the sanctity of a national event. This is not a desirable behaviour from persons in responsible positions."

The Central government on January 25 announced the award of Padma Bhushan to Manoj Das and the Padma Shri for V.K. Munusamy Krishnapakthar.

Bedi also tweeted that Narayanasamy left the `At Home' event at the Lt. Governor's residence shouting at the Comptroller Raj Nivas for requesting him to present a shawl to the two Padma awardees from Puducherry, saying it was without his prior permission.

Bedi also said that Narayanasamy's colleagues too followed him out of the Raj Niwas event.

"We thanked the two Padma Awardees from Puducherry, Mr Manoj Dass Billingual Author with Padma Bhushan and PondyTerracotta Artist VKA Munusamy before a select invitees at the At Home hosted on the evening of Republic Day," Bedi said in another tweet.

On his part, Chief Minister Narayanasamy had faulted Bedi for mixing felicitation functions with the customary `At Home' event, which is normally not done.

Meanwhile, in a tweet on Tuesday, Narayanasamy said: "This morning, myself & Hon'ble Minister for Education Shri Kamalakannan, Hon'ble Parliamentary Secretary Shri Lakshminarayan MLA felicitated Shri Manoj Das at his residence who won Padma Bhushan award for his contribution in the field of #Literature & #Education."

( With inputs from IANS )