Aruchal to forward Pul’s diary to Home Ministry

From Our Correspondent

Itagar, Feb 19: Days after the 60-page note of late Kalikho Pul ‘Mere Vichaar’ was made public with content that baffled the entire state, the state Cabinet on Saturday resolved to forward the origil notes to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, for further investigation by any agency as deemed fit. After holding deliberations pertaining to the disclosure of ‘Mere Vichaar’, Government Spokespersons Bamang Felix and P D So in a press conference late Saturday night informed that the Cabinet came to the consensus of forwarding the matter to a central agency for investigation.

Clearly terming the allegations in the notes as “baseless, false and without any evidence”, Felix said that ‘Mere Vichaar’, as titled, contains only his thoughts and cannot be considered a suicide note. “There is no hint in the notes that he is contemplating suicide because of alleged issues mentioned in the notes, and he has also not accused anyone for his decision to take the extreme step,” Felix added. On the repeated demand of Dangwimsai Pul for the resigtion of Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chow Mein for free and fair investigation into the death of her husband, So said, “Since there is no foul play or any substance to the case, it would not be reasoble for any minister or government official to step down.”

So also clarified his stand on the allegations that he had received Rs 4 crore from late Pul on July 11, 2016, and said that “It is open for investigation”, as there would have been some sort of transaction with that large an amount at his disposal. Responding to claims of Dangwimsai that her family has been receiving threat calls against raising her voice on the matter of her husband’s death, both the spokespersons opined that “those were some serious allegations and that she should come out clear on it. If there is a real threat, the government will provide security, as it would for all its citizens, but there has to be certain evidence to the threat.”

They also informed that since the case is subjudiced in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, it is not in the hands of the legislators to make it available for the public.

Pul was found hanging by the ceiling fan of the ‘prayam room’ in the Chief Ministers’ Bungalow on August 9, last year. The fil report concluded that there was no foul play behind his death and that ‘the cause of death was due to asphyxia, resulting from ligature and suicidal in ture’. His 60-page note titled ‘Mere Vichaar’ came out in the public domain when the web portal ‘The Wire’ uploaded scanned copies of it on its website on February 8 last. Following the disclosure of the notes, Pul’s first wife, Dangwimsai Pul also broke her long silence on February 11, and came out with the Green Aruchal Foundation to demand a CBI inquiry into the death of her husband.

The note also contains mes of four of the highest authorities in India’s legal fraternity who allegedly demanded bribe from late Pul, along with mes of senior politicians, who also allegedly sought illegal fincial gratification from Pul.