‘Centre serious on Pul’s allegation’

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itagar, Feb 13:  Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday said that the Centre is taking serious note of the allegations leveled by former chief minister late Kalikho Pul in his alleged 60-paged suicide note.

Pul had allegedly written the notes a day before he ended his life at the chief minister’s bungalow here on August 9 last year.

Rijiju, the minister of state for Home Affairs, who was in the town to iugurate a new multi-brand showroom, asserted that the BJP has and would always stand up against corruption.

He, however, denied commenting specifically on the allegations stating that Pul through his notes has made references not only to a particular person but to many and most importantly to the highest court of India, the Supreme Court.

“When these kinds of issues are there which involves constitutiol functiories of the highest court of India, it is difficult for us to comment on it. People may raise certain political issues but being a responsible person, it will not be wise enough for me to make a judgment against a particular person or on the disclosures made in the notes,” he emphatically said.     

“Aruchal is in a scent stage and we must have a proper understanding of the issues before we try to drive some sort of political advantage of a tragedy. Pul’s death is a tragedy as he was one of the stalwarts of Aruchal politics. His demise is a great loss for the people of the state. However, the allegations are widespread as he has touched upon various issues, he added.

Stating that no one should take political advantage or mileage out of such tragic incident, Rijiju added that the demand for a CBI probe made by his eldest wife is something that the government cannot decide on its own.  

“Whether it be a prime minister or any other council of minister, it will difficult for us to comment on this for now. The issue is very sensitive and as allegations have also been made against the Supreme Court, so no government can claim that it can immediately initiate action against the judiciary,” he said adding that he had not gone through the notes properly.

Responding to media queries on the allegations by late Pul on Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chow Mein of being involved in corruption, Rijiju stated that the Congress has been corrupt and the people who have been involved in that government also have every chance of being involved in corruption.

“I am less concerned of what happened in the Congress regime but I more concerned of the fact that since the installation of BJP government in state, corruption has never been tolerated,” he claimed.

On questions if the NDA government would protect those leaders who have practiced corruption during the Congress regime, the MoS said, “It is not necessary that a particular leader who has practiced corruption being in a particular government would repeat the same in the other regime.

While referring to the allegations levelled by Pul, where he, in his notes has claimed that huge amount of money was transferred to the Congress High Command in the me of party funds, Rijiju asserted that the same would not happen in the BJP’s regime.

He was also of the opinion that the allegations of corruption levelled on the leaders during the Congress regime has to be looked into. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pema Khandu who denied commenting on the allegations said that he would soon issue a statement after he sits for a meeting with his cabinet.