Expelled Pul hints at taking legal help

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itagar, April 3: Expelled Congress MLA Kalikho Pul today hinted at taking legal help to counter the Aruchal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC)’s arbitrary move to punish him without following the laid down guidelines of the party constitution.

The fifth time MLA from Hayuliang constituency in remote Anjaw district was expelled from the party on Thursday for a period of six years for alleged anti-party activities. “The decision of the party state president was unfortute as I was not intimated nor served any show cause notice earlier. As per the party’s constitution, before expulsion of a member, he should be served notice and suspended, while expulsion is the last option if anything is proved against him,” Pul told reporters here. “I have only received the order this afternoon and I will appeal the higher authority of the party for reconsideration of the decision,” he said and added that he would seek legal help if necessary after due consultation with the people of his constituency.

While denying his involvement in any anti-party activities as alleged in the expulsion order, Pul disclosed that during his over thirty years long association with the Congress, he had never worked against the party’s interest.

“Whatever responsibilities have been bestowed on me, I carried it with utmost devotion and dedication,” he said. “If I committed any anti-party activities, there should be complaint to the vigilance committee of the party which would conduct an enquiry and submit its report to the party president for further action. However, in my case nothing such happened,” he ridiculed.

 “The move is intended to punish me and a sheer murder of democracy,” he added.

Pul, who was dropped from the Health and Family Welfare portfolio on December 24 last year, further disclosed that the decision to drop him from the council of ministers was because of his initiative to streamline the health department.

“The decision I took in the state and peoples’ interest might dissatisfy someone in the cabinet for which I was dropped,” he quipped. The former Fince and Planning minister also criticized the present government for the fincial crisis of the state, which compelled the chief secretary to issue an order to close the year ending on March 24 last instead of March 31. Alleging that the state is facing an overdraft of 449 crore, he asked the state government to come out clear before the public on the fincial status of the state.