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Hello Jammu News at 9:12:00 PM 0
Senior Congress leader and Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy


Puducherry, Feb 1 :  Senior Congress leader and Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Saturday dubbed the union budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as the most disappointing and lacking in firm measures to deal with economic slowdown.

In his reaction to the budget, the Chief Minister slammed the Centre for its "commitment to sell its stake in public sector undertakings such as LIC and the railways."

Also, he said he was shocked and dismayed over the failure of the Finance Minister to unveil steps for relief to farmers, unemployed youth and the poorer sections.

"No firm steps have been rolled out for promoting investments in the industrial sector," he said.

The budget has several schemes that would only fatten the rich people at the cost of the poor and have-nots, the Chief Minister said.

Further, several genuine and legitimate demands of Puducherry have been totally ignored, he said.

While there were proposals to earmark copious funds for the newly created Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the Union Territory of Puducherry has been left high and dry, he said.

"Our consistent plea for sanction of funds to Puducherry to meet its commitment to implement the report of the Seventh Pay Commission and also to include Union Territory in the 15th Central Finance Commission had not been conceded, he lamented.

He said he was displeased with the absence of schemes to waive loans borrowed by farmers.

"In all, the budget lacks firm measures to relieve the country of its economic slowdown, inflation and setback in industrial development," he said.
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Hello Jammu News at 1:06:00 PM 0


Puducherry, Dec 31 : Huge crowds of revellers, mostly tourists, thronged the Beach Road here to usher in the New Year.

Fireworks lit up the sky, chants of "Happy New Year" filled the air and sweets were distributed as the clock struck 12.

Police were deployed in strength and maximum vigil was maintained to prevent any untoward incidents.

Main thoroughfares bustled with activity as vehicles lined up. Many gathered outside their residences and in balconies to witness the festivities.

Senior officers, including Director General of Police S Sundari Nanda, monitored the traffic.

Barricades were erected at various points.

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, accompanied by several legislators of the ruling Congress, visited the sea shore around midnight to greet the people and tourists on the occasion of the New Year.

Earlier in the day, Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi had extended her greetings to the people.     PTI
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Hello Jammu News at 2:02:00 PM 0

Puducherry, Sep 27: Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi has blamed lack of government scrutiny and precaution for the losses suffered by public sector undertakings and societies in the union territory.

Identifying the reasons for the PSUs's losses after a deep review of sanction of grants to them, she said consequently "loss over loss was glossed over and objections from auditors were not complied with."

With the leadership of these undertakings being both "political and bureaucratic both are responsible for the state of affairs over the years," she said in a release here Wednesday.

The review revealed that the government had been 'callously' dealing with the release and sanction of grants.

She said the files relating to the sanction of grant in aid had not been earlier placed before the office of the Lt Governor.

"In the past we have been releasing funds over the years without due precaution and scrutiny... People entered the undertakings for employment for salaries through irregular means and through back-door," Bedi said.

Money sanctioned for specific purposes were breached and diverted to pay salaries and without any departmental policy.

The PSUs and societies deviated from their core functions and went into businesses without having core competences resulting in "massive losses and debts," she added.

The Puducherry government had consequently been reeling under "a debt" and had not been able to pay salaries to duly recruited employees on time, Bedi said.

She stressed that public servants must refrain from being spectators and should take responsibility for the administration they have chosen to be in.

"If the officers wanted their pensions safe they should stop ignoring what is irregular," she said asking the officers to go by the law and the rules while sanctioning the grants and record their observations in the files. (PTI)

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Hello Jammu News at 6:35:00 PM 0

Puducherry, Aug 20: The AIADMK in Puducherry today urged the territorial government to immediately convene a special Assembly session and bring in a legislation to ensure 50 percent quota for government sponsored students in the private medical colleges in the Union Territory.

AIADMK legislature wing leader AAnbalagan told reporters here that presently the private medical colleges including deemed-to-be-universities were denying seats at 50 percent of quota for the local students.

"Seat sharing is done according to whims and fancies of the managements and most of the time the local students were not getting admission.

Seats are sold away for exorbitant prices to students from distant States," he alleged

There should be a law to curb this unjust and unfair practice on the part of the managements," he said.

Charging the government with 'keeping mum' on the issue, Anbalagan said parents and students associations should also come forward to press the rights of the students.

The AIADMK leader wanted a legislation to be enacted to ensure fifty percent quota for government sponsored students in private medical colleges.

"When the government could bring in a resolution to divest the nominated legislators of their right to vote on the floor of the House as was done in the recent budget session, there is no reason why a legislation on medical college admission issue could not be brought in," Anbalagan said.

He also sought the intervention of Lt Governor Kiran Bedi to do justice to the students. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 4:31:00 PM 0

Puducherry, Aug 20: The government employees in Puducherry have decided to contribute their one day salary to the Kerala flood relief fund.

A joint delegation of different associations of government employees met Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and conveyed their decision to contribute one day salary by each of the around 30,000 work force to the fund.

Talking to reporters, Narayanasamy thanked the employees of the government, cooperative institutions and public sector undertakings, who together account for around 40,000, for their gesture and said it would lead to mobilisation of around Rs 7 crore.

He also said Puducherry government had already announced Rs one crore to Kerala and was now considering enhancing it. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 6:48:00 PM 0

Puducherry, Aug 11: Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy has charged Lt Governor Kiran Bedi with "violating the spirit of oath of secrecy"by "divulging all secret official communications" through social media and said it was "unbecoming" of a constitutional authority.

In his letter to Bedi yesterday, he pointed out that though as an Administrator she had taken oath of office and secrecy, she has been issuing every day all official "secret communications violating the oath of secrecy which was unbecoming of a constitutional authority."

A copy of his letter was distributed to reporters here today.

Recalling his meeting with Bedi where he had apprised her of Lt Governor's powers, he said, "You brushed aside whatever I told you about the constitutional powers of the elected government."

Noting that the Lt Governor was issuing day in and day out orders without authority which only confused the officers, the Chief Minister claimed that they (officials) "need not obey the orders of the Lt Governor and can ignore them."

Narayanasamy, whose government is locked in a running battle with Bedi on various issues in the past two years, said he was "ready to cooperate with the Lt Governor" if she acted on the aid and advice of Council of Ministers.

"I am willing to cooperate with you if you do no not block welfare schemes and if you act within the Constitution and the law book," the Chief Minister said in his letter. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 2:32:00 PM 0

Puducherry, July 18: Stressing the importance of learning more languages, Puducherry Welfare Minister M Kandasamy has said his inability to communicate in Hindi has caused him a lot of inconvenience during his visits to the national capital.

"One should know all languages and more particularly Hindi," the minister candidly pointed out during the debate on demands for grants to his departments in the Assembly yesterday.

"Lack of knowledge and ability to speak in Hindi causes trouble while I am in Delhi for meetings" he said.

Earlier, referring to the difficulties faced by students, DMK MLA Geetha Anandan said students from Karaikal had to travel to Puducherry to take online tests for admissions to Industrial Training Institutes.

Besides, they were expected to have knowledge of Hindi language, she said.

Intervening Anandan, Kandasamy said, "one should know all languages and more particularly Hindi.. In my own case I find it difficult to communicate while in New Delhi and meeting my party leader Sonia Gandhi," he said.

"Students should have the yearning to learn more languages," he added.

During the question hour, Agriculture Minister R Kamalakannan informed the assembly that the government had a proposal to establish an Agriculture University by integrating the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Farm Science Centre), the government run Veterinary College and the government Agriculture College in Karaikal.

He also said the territorial government would increase the number of seats at 40 per group in four groups in Puducherry Engineering College. (PTI)

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Hello Jammu News at 11:47:00 AM 0

Puducherry, Jul 16 :  Hailing France on its victory in the football World Cup, Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi today called for efforts to build on the spirit of celebration by promoting the game in the former French colony.

France defeated Croatia 4-2 in the FIFA World Cup final in Moscow yesterday to win the title for a second time.

"We can build on this spirit of celebration by promoting football in the union territory by organising inter-village, inter-town and inter-city football tournaments," Bedi said in a WhatsApp message to mediapersons here.

"It costs just one ball to unite as was visible in the French team," she added.

The former IPS officer also said "we in Puducherry wanted France to win the World Cup as the Union Territory has a very memorable and historical bond with France."

Thousands of people in the union territory have maintained close ties with France, which also generously supports Puducherry in several ways, the Lt Governor said. PTI
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Hello Jammu News at 3:20:00 PM 0


Puducherry, Jul 7 :  Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today said it is not feasible to hold simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

"Simultaneous polls are not feasible. I have written letters to the Law Commission and Home Ministry stating my stand on the subject," he told reporters here.

The idea to conduct simultaneous elections is not an acceptable proposition, he said.

He said the Law Commission has convened a two-day meeting with all national and state political parties to discuss its feasibility.

The need for holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies has been voiced for several years now. More recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also voiced his support to the idea.

The chief minister said he had apprised Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, who was on a day-long visit to Puducherry yesterday, of the various grievances of the territorial government.

Narayanasamy said he had sought his intervention to procure sufficient funds for Puducherry and also placed before him the plea that it be granted "statehood with special category status".

He said he also took up various other issues such as -- including Puducherry in the Fifteenth Finance Commission, waiver of loans and 25 per cent quota of seats in UG and PG courses in Pondicherry University.

The chief minister said as the Vice President is the chancellor of the central university here, he had requested him to establish an institute of environment sciences and a department for skill development among others.

"The Vice-President assured me that he would consider the plea to include Puducherry as one of the constituent regions of the Finance Commission," he added.

Naidu had also assured him that he would soon convene a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor of the university to meet all the demands in so far as university-related subjects were concerned, Narayanasamy said.

He reiterated that Lt Governor Kiran Bedi "does not have any authority to deny approval to any of the decisions the government took".

The chief minister said the recent verdict of the Supreme Court on the power tussle between the Lt Governor of Delhi and the elected government there was applicable to the Puducherry, too.

"The verdict is totally applicable to Puducherry also and this point has been repeatedly pointed out leaving no room for any doubt and wrong understanding," he said.

The Lt Governor here "cannnot reject" any of the cabinet decisions and could only seek clarification for any part of the decisions, Narayanasamy asserted.

Meanwhile, the government reimbursed students from the union territory who took the recent NEET examination in centres in other states.

Narayanasamy said 304 students from Puducherry, who appeared for NEET in other states and incurred expenditure for travel and boarding, were reimbursed by the government.PTI

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Hello Jammu News at 5:26:00 PM 0

Puducherry, Jul 2: Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, who also holds the Finance portfolio, today presented a Rs 7,530 crore budget, which imposes no fresh taxes, in the territorial Assembly, amidst protest and walk out by the opposition MLAs.

In his 75-minute long address, Narayanasamy said of Rs 7530 crores which is the projected outlay of the budget the Union Territory's own resources for the current fiscal is estimated at Rs 4570 crore while the Central assistance would be Rs 1476 crore.

He said the anticipated grants for the Centrally sponsored schemes was estimated at Rs 409 crore.

The remaining Rs 1,050 crore would be met from "open market borrowings and loans from the Central financial institutions."

A major portion of the financial resources of Puducherry goes to meeting the committed expenditure of salaries,pension, loan and interest payments and purchase of power, he noted.

While Rs 1,800 crore has been allocated for disbursement of salaries out of the budget estimate, Rs 875 crore is earmarked for payment of pension and Rs 1380 crore for debt servicing (repayment of loan and payment of interest) and Rs 1200 crore for purchase of power," he added.

The Chief Minister pointed out that during the previous financial year (2017-2108) the expenditure incurred was Rs 6757 crore marking 95 percent of the revenue target.

He recalled that after creating a separate public account of Puducherry with effect from December 2007, the Central government had dispensed with the grant of plan loans for the Union Territory.

The Puducherry government has been permitted to availof the loan through open market borrowings and from Central financial institutions like HUDCO and NABARD for funding plan schemes.

Within minutes of Chief Minister commencing his budget speech, the opposition legislators belonging to the AINRC and AIADMK registered their protest against the government and staged a walk out.

Earlier, they alleged that none of the promises held out by the government in the last budget werefulfilled.

The House adjourned after Chief Minister presented the budget to meet tomorrow at 9.30 AM. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 2:07:00 PM 0
Puducherry, Jun 23 : Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today hit out at the NDA government at the Centre for "ignoring" the Union Territory on several counts and 'slashing grants,' crippling its developmental projects.

Addressing reporters here, Narayanasamy said although he had written to the Prime Minister on five occasions in the past seeking an appointment with him to place before him the issues concerning Puducherry he had not received any reply so far.

"Puducherry, a small Union Territory needed Centre's assistance for developmental activities. But want of adequate assistance from the Centre had been crippling Puducherry in various sectors," he alleged.

"I plan to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week in Delhi to seek his intervention for the sanction of funds for development of Puducherry," he said.

In a veiled reference to Lt Governor Kiran Bedi with whom he had been at loggerheads on various issues, Narayanasamy said, "some central government representatives here are also interfering in routine administration of Puducherry under the pretext that they had the authority to do so."

"The NDA government is putting several blockades by slashing the grants and also by keeping Puducherry out of the purview of the Fifteenth Central Finance Commission," he charged.

By declining membership to Puducherry in the Finance Commission, the Central grant now available at 42 percent of the total budgetary requirements for states had been fixed at 25 percent for the Union Territory, he said.

The Chief Minister sought the Centre to grant special incentives to entrepreneurs coming forward to start industries here.

"Such incentives are available in North Eastern States and Puducherry which lacks raw materials and also facing the need to market the produced goods in other pockets should also be extended the incentives," he contended.  PTI

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Hello Jammu News at 1:36:00 PM 0

Puducherry, May 11: Prohibitory order under section 144 CrPc has been promulgated in Kalapet near here in view of the tense situation prevailing there.
It may be noted that violence erupted at a public hearing in view of the expansion proposal of Sashun Drugs at Kalapet and two groups clashed forcing the police to resort to lathicharge and lobbing tear gas shells. Several persons were injured.
About ten police personnel were injured in stone hurling by mob following which the public hearing was postponed.
In this backdrop, based on a recommendation from the police, District Collector Sathyendra Singh Dursawat clamped prohibitory order under section 144 CrPc at Kalapet on Thursday night.
The order will be in force until further orders in all the villages coming under Kalapet police station limits.
Marriages and funeral processions were exempted from the Order. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 1:09:00 PM 0

Puducherry, May 10: Reacting to Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy’s demand that she should resign on moral grounds, Lt.Governor Kiran Bedi on Thursday said the former has to understand that 'one resigns from a job and not mission'.
In a whatsapp message to media, Ms Bedi said 'she is here on a mission of Prosperous Puducherry', Swachh Puducherry, Water Rich Puducherry, Financially secure Puducherry, Responsive Puducherry and Skilled Puducherry'.
If she was not on a mission, why should she accompany with Raj Nivas team and officers every weekend by visiting rural areas in need of resources and paying attention on such as drains, ponds or rivers or bed dams, the Lt Governor asked.
Whatever is being done is because it is the right thing to do, she said, adding, in fact we need to do much more and that will happen if the Chief Minister join in. 
“So instead of asking me to stop doing, join me if you love Puducherry and become part of Mission prosperous Puducherry” Ms Bedi said. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 6:08:00 PM 0


Puducherry, May 5: Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayansamy on Saturday announced financial assistance to the Puducherry students writing the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) in other states like Rajasthan.
Talking to newspersons, Mr Narayansamy said the administration would bear the travelling expenses of the students and an additional Rs 1500 would be provided to each of them.
The funds would be provided from the Chief Minister's relief fund and since the examination is scheduled for tomorrow, the students could collect the amount from the CM's office on their return to Puducherry.

He said the centralised Adminission Committee (Centac) of the government does not have any details about the students appearing for NEET and it was requested that the students should intimate Centac about them before appearing for the examination in future to continue the financial assistance.

To a question,Mr Narayansamy said that he still opposes NEET, which is against the interest of the students of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry studying in Tamil Nadu Board of Education. The Supreme Court had rejected their plea in the issue and in such a scenario, they could not do anything, he added.
UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 11:39:00 AM 0


Puducherry, Apr 21: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Puducherry has launched the State-of-the-art Fiber Broadband with Data and Voice Services on Revenue Share Model, in association with BSNL Authorized Franchisee, here on Friday.
According to a BSNL release on Saturday, Mr.Marshal Antony Leo, Chief General Manager, BSNL, Tamil Nadu Telecom Circle, Chennai, launched this path-breaking service. Six customers of Lawspet area were given the service on the spot. To start with, this service would be available in all areas of Lawspet and part of Mettupalayam, on demand, and would be extended to other areas in a phased manner.
This Fiber Broadband service is built on the Optical Fiber Network Technology concept with a host of value added services from the Next Generation Network (NGN) Switches. With the launch of this service, the broadband service would be available with a speed up to 100 Mbps. Unlike other service providers, this service is provided with clear and undistorted voice call facility, the first of its kind, which is available from BSNL only. 
The other special features of this service are video conferencing bandwidth on demand, video surveillance facility, games and videos on demand, etc.
The Fiber Broadband connectivity provides all communication facilities by using broadband and land line network with voice, data and video communications irrespective of distance and location. 
The optic fiber technology can deliver uninterrupted world class experience to the consumers, the release said. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 3:13:00 PM 0



Puducherry, Apr 19: Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayansamy on Thursday demanded that the Tamil Nadu government initiate action against BJP national secretary H Raja for his adverse comments against DMK leaders Karunanidhi and Kanimozhi.
Talking to news persons on the sidelines of a college function here, the Chief Minister described Raja as a “cheap” politician and that by criticising leaders of other political parties he is trying to capture a place in the minds of the people.
He said the prevailing issue in Tamil Nadu could not be diverted by any efforts taken by Raja.
Mr Narayansamy said cash crunch is being experienced in the country due to the wrong economic policy of the BJP government. The Centre should shoulder responsibility for this situation, he said, adding that he would write to the Union Finance Ministry about the non-availability of cash in ATMs in the union territory. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 12:13:00 PM 0


Puducherry, Apr 19: Four people suffered burns when sulfuric acid, leaking from a running tanker lorry, fell on them at Saidarapet-Pathukannu road near here on Wednesday.
According to police, sulfuric acid was being taken in a tanker lorry from an industrial unit at Saidarapet here to Mettur. When the vehicle reached near Pathukkannu, the acid started leaking and fell over four people riding on their motorcycles just behind the tanker lorry. They were immediately shifted to JIPMER hospital for treatment.
The tanker driver stopped the vehicle and parked it on the side of the road even as acid continued to leak out and informed the company. Meanwhile, Saidarapet police swung into action and diverted traffic on that road. They also shut down power supply in the area as the tanker was parked near a transformer.
Saiderapet fire service personnel reached the spot and pumped water on the tanker, following which fumes started emanating. Meanwhile, the company arranged another tanker and the acid was transferred into the second tanker which left for Mettur. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 6:05:00 PM 0



Puducherry, Apr 12: All India Mahila Congress General Secretary Nagma on Thursday charged the Union Government for its failure to respect the Supreme Court judgement on the Cauvery Water issue.
Talking to news persons here, Ms Nagma, who is here to take part in a five-day training programme organized for Mahila Congress volunteers, alleged that the Central government’s action on the Cauvery issue is due to the Karnataka Assembly election on May 12.
She said that the Congress party is exerting maximum pressure on the centre to set up the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and is also fighting for it. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 12:59:00 PM 0


Puducherry, Apr 10: Police arrested a man on Monday night on charges of hurling petrol bomb at an all party public meeting here.
According to police, a DMK sponsored all-party public meeting was organized, to condemn the amendment in the SC/ST prevention of atrocities Act and demanding its inclusion in the 9th schedule of the Constitution, was in progress near the new bus stand last night.
Suddenly, a petrol bomb fell behind the stage and fire started. Leaders on the stage and the public who were there to hear the leaders ran for safety. In the meanwhile, a section of the public caught hold of a man who was trying to escape from the spot.
He was severely manhandled by the public and handed over him to the police. 
Orleanpet police arrested the man and on interrogation, it came to know that he is one Velmurugan (34) from Kadayanallur in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. Since the last few days Velmurugan was working in a hotel here and staying in it. He committed the crime in an inebriated condition.
After a short span of time, the public meeting continued. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 12:23:00 PM 0


Puducherry, Apr 5: Normal life in this Union Territory of Puducherry was disrupted as the 12- hour bandh called by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(DMK) and supported by its allies evoked a near total response here on Thursday.
The bandh was to condemn the BJP-led NDA government at the centre for its failure to constitute the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) as directed by the Supreme court and to press for its immediate constitution.
All shops and other business establishments remained closed, Puducherry Road Transport corporation buses, private buses, taxis, autorickshaws and three wheeler passenger tempos were off the roads.
The Tamil Nadu government owned buses passing through Puducherry entered the Union territory in the morning and it was stopped at the border areas as the wind screen of four buses were damaged.
Industrial units in all the industrial estates remained closed, Cinema houses suspended shows and private schools declared a holiday for the day postponing annual examination scheduled for today to another day.
Meanwhile, both central and state government offices functioned with thin attendance and government schools also functioned with less number of students. Engineering colleges, some medical colleges and arts and science colleges here also declared a holiday for the day.
The agitators blocked buses carrying students of some medical colleges and sent them back.
Volunteers of the DMK and allies led by R Siva MLA took out a procession this morning.When they reached Nellithoppe junction, they saw two Tamil Nadu government buses and smashed its windscreen.
The windscreen of one bus was shattered at New Bus stand and another at Muthialpet in stone pelting.
The volunteers also broke the glass panes at a petrol pump at Karamanikuppam which was opened today forcing the proprietor to close it.
Meanwhile, police made elaborate security arrangements to maintain law and order. Police pickets were posted at all vulnerable areas and patrolling was intensified.
The bandh was supported by the ruling Congress party, CPI, CPI-M, VCK, Puthiya Neethi Katchi, Republican Party of India, Padaippali Makkal Katchi and among others. UNI
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