Opposition Parties Demand Arunachal CM Pema Khandu’s Resignation

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: All the Opposition parties in Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday, while taking strong exception to the recent rampage in the Capital Complex over the permanent residence certificate (PRC) issue that left three killed and many injured, have demanded resignation of Chief Minister Pema Khandu on moral grounds.

An all-Opposition parties meeting was convened here under the chairmanship of former Chief Minister Gegong Apang, who recently joined the Janata Dal (Secular). The meeting was also attended by representatives of Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) led by its president Takam Sanjoy, National People’s Party (NPP) legislature party leader Tanga Byaling and People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) president Kahfa Bengia

Sanjoy told mediapersons that the meeting constituted an all-party coordination committee (APCC) with him as convenor and decided that a 15-member delegation would meet the State Governor soon to submit a memorandum.

“Ouster of Khandu will be a focal point and the Governor should dismiss his government. In case of his failure to do so, the Governor should institute a commission of inquiry headed by either a sitting High Court judge or retired Chief Justice and declare Risso Tari, Viki Ruja and Tsering Wangdi, who were killed in firing for PRC, as martyrs,” Sanjoy said.

“The ruling government has lost its right to be on the chair,” Sanjoy said and charged the government for miserably failing to control the law and order situation as the sentimentally charged masses came out to the street to agitate against the government’s move.

Moreover, he said the Chief Secretary sometimes act as the Chief Minister and vice-versa reflecting poor governance that led to the massive violence while the Army and para-military forces were sent to the State by Union MoS (Home Affairs) Kiren Rijiju which further deteriorated the situation. The APCC chief also blamed the State Government for the rampage as Home Minister Kumar Waii has gone on record saying that he had not given firing orders to the police and was unaware as to who sought the Army and para-military forces.

“When the Army does not fire even in volatile Kashmir but follows set guidelines of using water cannons, lathi-charge, air firing, before firing below waist, but shockingly the unarmed agitators were fired inhumanly during the anti-PRC agitation that had intensified the situation,” Sanjoy alleged.

North East in-charge of JDS Okon Daggang, Congress Legislature Party Leader (CLP) Takam Pario, Congress MLA Mario Tado, PPA secretary general Kaling Jerang attended the meeting among others.

Also read: Arunachal News