Not in position to approve proposal of Pongal gifts: Bedi to Narayanasamy

Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi said late Saturday night her office was "not in a position" to approve the proposal to distribute Pongal gifts to APL families, hours after Chief Minister V Narayanasamy warned her of "serious repercussions" if she did not concur with his government on the issue.

Addressing reporters here, Narayanasamy, who has been at loggerheads with Bedi on various issues, said he had on Friday sent a file, informing her that Pongal hampers comprising raisins, cashew nuts, and cardamom should be available free of cost to "all families without discrimination".

He said Bedi, who was insisting on giving the gifts to only BPL families, would face "very serious repercussions" if she did not see eye to eye with his government on the Pongal gift hamper scheme.

Bedi in a WhatsApp message said, "The Puducherry Finance Department had examined the proposal for providing the gift to above poverty line (APL) families and it had found that no separate funds were provided for the