Kiran Bedi encounters protest from group of villagers in Puducherry

The incident occurred when Bedi was interacting with members of self-help groups in the village as part of her regular weekend field visits.

The group started raising slogans against her and alleged that Bedi had stopped the distribution of free rice and blocked the implementation of a number of other welfare schemes.

A Raj Nivas release said that a group of villagers “deliberately assembled to create a furore and kept raising allegations against the Lt Governor”. The protesters were dispersed by the police.

It said that Bedi told the villagers that she had accorded sanction for distribution of free rice and at no stage was the scheme blocked. She told them that she was meeting people to know about their grievances and directing officials to solve them, the release said.

The Lt Governor also told them that her office was open to people to make representations about their grievances from Monday to Wednesday every week. She suggested that a committee of villagers be formed to address the problems through government agencies.

Earlier, on her arrival at the Muthalathamman temple, Bedi was accorded a reception by the village elders and also members of self help groups. Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, speaking at a seminar organised as part of birth centenary celebrations of late prime minister Indira Gandhi here today, criticised Bedi’s style of functioning.