Congress demands Khandu’s resignation

Our Correspondent

Itanagar, June 1: The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has demanded immediate imposition of President Rule in the state due to constitutional crisis emanating from delay in holding Panchayat polls and deteriorating law & order with rising cases of theft, murder, rape, kidnapping, drug smuggling and the like.

“Panchayati Raj secretary and special secretary have issued separate but contradictory notification regarding dissolution of Panchayati Raj institution in the state to confuse the masses and also by cancellation of municipal and panchayat elections, even after announcement of Itanagar and Pasighat municipal polls,” APCC vice president Minkir Lollen said in a statement here.

“Municipal polls cancellation was based on DCs forecasting heavy monsoon rains that would lead to landslides & communication disruption to affect such elections where as PRI & municipal polls were held smoothly even in far-flung and border area villages without any disruption in 2013. It is a common knowledge that monsoon arrives after May,” Lollen said.

The party also criticized the Pema Khandu government for “surfacing in laughing zone” over his claim at Geku on Wednesday that the ruling party would win all 60 assembly seats in 2019 elections.

Pointing out that the chief minister himself is well aware that his government would not last till 2019 polls, the party termed such claim “out of imagination and asked him to ensure victory from his Jang-Mukto seat”.

Lamenting over lack of concrete decisions but tall claims with false promises, contrary to ground realities, the party said is no development except Trans-Arunachal Highway, gifted by Congress-led UPA government headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2008 and termed Modi Govt’s decision to reduce 1 paise in petrol and diesel rates as a cruel joke.

The party asked Khandu to own moral responsibility and step down to give away for a matured and experience leader to manage the state effectively.