Arunachal Government Dismisses Corruption Charges Against Khandu

CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The Arunachal Pradesh government on Saturday dismissed all the allegations of corruption made against Chief Minister Pema Khandu by various organizations of the state, saying that it was made with ulterior political motives.

Addressing reporters at the civil secretariat here, government spokesman Nyato Dukam said that the allegations made against the chief minister are vague and imaginary without any basis.

"It is felt that the team is desperately hell-bent to defame the popular and mandated government with such cheap gimmicks to gain popularity," he said.

Dukam said, ever since BJP took the reins of the state with Khandu as the chief minister, the government has adopted a "Pan Arunachal" view in its developmental agenda by ensuring an inclusive and participatory approach in all decision-making.

The Annual budgets, which were earlier done behind closed doors, are now participatory where all stakeholders have a say. Wider consultation with all strata of people is being carried out to give the formal shape to any decision or policy of the government, which has been maintaining utmost transparency and accountability with heavy hands-on corruption.

Referring to the allegation of Khandu's disproportionate assets acquired in a short political span to the tune of 163 crores as declared in the election affidavit of 2019, Dukam said that Khandu has family business firms, bank deposits and immovable properties. Regular income is generated through such business firms, rents and other income from various assets, returns from investments, and bank interest accrued on deposits also contribute to his income and savings.

Besides, the cost escalation of assets declared in 2014 has also led to a substantial increase in the value of the same assets declared in 2019 thereby adding up to the value of assets owned by him, the spokesman pointed out.

On allegations regarding duplication of schemes, Dukam said that all schemes sanctioned by the state government or by the Centre, are subject to observance of all codal formalities. All schemes are geo-tagged with strict norms and laid down guidelines restricting any departments to resort duplicities in the execution of schemes.

Referring to the allegations of corruption on Sampoorna Gramin Rojgar Yojana (SGRY), the spokesman said a Public Interest Litigation was filed in the Gauhati High Court by one Borang Lama and another consisting of various allegations primarily against the then Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu.

The main contention raised in the PIL 52/2007 was the alleged drawal of Rs 68.44 crore as the cost of transportation of 24,800 MT of rice allocated by the Centre to the state under SGRY during 2004-05. After a thorough hearing of arguments placed by both parties, the court exonerated Dorjee Khandu and other respondents of all the allegations labelled against them in its judgement on May 12, 2010.

The judgement was challenged in the Supreme Court of India in form of a Special Leave Petition (SLP) by two persons -Rahul Agarwal and Voluntary Arunachal Sena.

"Since the matter is subjudice, it may not be proper to comment on the matter till the SLPs are finally settled by the apex court," Dukam said.

On the misuse of multi-crore funds of local bodies during the Panchayat Raj election, the spokesman termed it incorrect.

"With regards to FFC grant in Panchayati Raj department, it is grossly incorrect to say that amount of Rs 889.00 crore has been received from the Centre in the second instalment of 2017-18. The Centre had approved and released the backlog grants amounting to Rs 455.78 crore under 14th FC. Under the 15th FC, the PR department released Rs 115.50 crore. In total, grants amounting to Rs 571.28 crore were received which was utilized in the state through various activities implemented in the districts," he said.

Pointing to the allegation of gross misuse of 142 crores under Deen Dayal Upadhaya Gramin Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) fund by the state power department, the spokesman said that it has been tried to project as if the amount sanctioned for the state was utilized only for the 3 districts of West Kameng, Tawang and Namsai which is not correct. He added that the fact is that a total amount of Rs 408.61 crore was sanctioned under DDUGJY (original) and DDUGJY (additional) which was executed in 17 districts of the state as per specific requirements.

On allegations regarding misuse of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) fund allocated from the Union Environment and Forest Ministry, Dukam clarified that the scheme was being implemented as per the Compensatory Afforestation Act & Rules made there.

All the activities proposed under CAMPA are prepared in the form of an operational plan spread over 10 (ten) years based on which Annual Plan of Operation (APO) is proposed every year and after approval of the state government, the same is submitted to the Centre for execution approval, he added.

Also Read: Stakeholders' Training On 'Prevention Of Child Marriage Act'

Also Watch: