Probe fincial mess: BJP

Our Correspondent

Itagar, April 11: The BJP in Aruchal Pradesh today demanded for constitution of a high-powered committee to investigate into the alleged fincial mismagement by the bam Tuki-led Congress government in the state.

 “Time and again we have been demanding the state government to bring out a white paper on the state’s fincial health and the recent revelation made by one of the senior Congress MLA about the fincial mismagement by the state government has speak volume on rampant corruption in the state,” party’s state unit chief Tai Tagak said during a press conference here.

Former Fince Minister and senior Congress MLA Kalikho Pul, who was expelled from the party on charges of anti-party activities, recently in a press conference alleged fincial embezzlement by the state government to the tune of Rs 299.32 crore of central fund against relief and rehabilitation schemes in the past four years.

Pul had also alleged that the state government went in over draft with the RBI to the tune of Rs 449.76 crore and liabilities of more than Rs 6000 crore for which it was not in a position to clear contractors bills and salaries to contractual employees.

 “Corruption has become a cancerous disease in the state with no developmental activites for which the law and order situation has been deteriorating day by day,” Tagak alleged and added that a large chunk of development fund has been siphoned off by the Congress government.

Referring to the sudden dissolution of the state assembly on February last year and recommending for simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in the state, the BJP president said that the midnight exercise was done before six months of the expiry of the assembly to hide the fincial mismagement.

 “We are demanding for accountability in the fincial magement of the state and the government cannot run away from its responsibilities. The government has to come clear on the fund misappropriated before the people,” Tagak added.

 “When there is no money, there is no employment. In such situation youths of the state will certainly take wrong steps,” party’s spokesman R K Khrimey alleged.

Tagak said, the decision to impose Armed Forces Special (Power) Act (AFSPA) in 12 districts of the state was not unilateral but done due to the failure of the state government to curb militant activities which, are on the rise in recent time.

 “This is not a unilateral decision of the Centre but regular intelligence feedbacks have painted a dismal scerio of the prevailing law and order situation in the state. Even Chief Minister bam Tuki recently pleaded the union Home Ministry to deploy 2000 additiol para military personnel to tackle insurgency in the state,” BJP state unit president Tai Tagak told a press conference here.

He said, earlier AFSPA was imposed to an area of 20 kilometers of each district bordering Assam. However, after the recent carge carried out by NDFB (S) group in neighbouring Assam, the Centre has launched operation All-Out in Assam as a result of which most of the militants sneaked into the state beyond the AFSPA area for which it was not possible to launch operation by the security forces.

 “In the recent review meeting of Unified Command structure at Guwahati, the representatives from Aruchal Pradesh also highlighted the grim situation in the state,” he pointed out.

 “There is no pro-active government in the state to control the law and order situation. State government has an important role in controlling law and order which cannot be ruled out,” Tagak added.

When his attention was drawn to an agency report – ‘India extends army shoot to kill rule in Aruchal’ quoting Home Ministry officials which, had created fear psychosis among the people of the state, Tagak  disclosed that he would take up the matter with the ministry to find out the official and to take appropriate action.

On people’s apprehension about extension of AFSPA to entire state, the party’s chief said that it was not to the entire state but only to 12 districts which would be lifted when situation normalized.

 “AFSPA is an evil necessity. Its imposition in 12 districts has exposed the state government’s failure to curb insurgency. We do not want such a draconian law in our peaceful state but situation compelled the Centre to take such a decision. It is high time state government must rise to the situation,” Opposition leader in the assembly Tamiyo Taga opined.

 “The state government is sleeping and extension of AFSPA is a result of bad governce in the state,” he added.