The Karaikal Struggle Group, a movement seeking separate Union Territory status for Karaikal, has asked the Centre to adopt the precedent Centre had followed in respect of Goa if it conceded the plea of chief minister V Vaithilingam for statehood for Puducherry.
SP Selvashanmugham, convenor of KSG, said in a release from Karaikal today that there were reports that Vaithilingam had during a meeting with prime minister in Delhi recently sought statehood.
When Goa then a Union Territory was upgraded into a State in 1987 Centre had retained Daman and Diu, constituent regions, as separate Union Territory and made Goa alone State, he said.
Similarly if the Centre sanctioned statehood for Puducherry, Puducherry alone should be made a state while Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam should together be kept as a Union Territory with Karaikal as its headquarters,he said.
Selvashanmugham said a general body meeting of the movement yesterday had made this plea.
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