Arunachal Governor, BJP triggered political turmoil, say state ministers

Education Minister of Arunachal Pradesh squarely blamed state Governor J P Rajkhowa and the ruling BJP at the Centre for triggering the political turmoil in Arunachal Pradesh.

Itanagar: Education Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Tapang Taloh, flanked by the state's Home Minister Tanga Byaling and Parliamentary Secretary-cum-Arunachal Pradesh Youth Congress president Nyamar Karbak, on Sunday squarely blamed state Governor J P Rajkhowa and the ruling BJP at the Centre for triggering the political turmoil in Arunachal Pradesh.

Taloh, who was accused by the governor of unruly behaviour during the meeting with Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and his council of ministers at Raj Bhawan here on December 19, urged the governor to release the full video tape for the people to judge.

The video tape, a planned strategy with full bandobast in advance, was partially released to intentionally malign the image of the state and its leaders, he said, adding that the governor right from the day of taking charge acted calculatedly to topple the elected popular government.

Taloh said that Rajkhowa had been calling ministers and officers and writing letters in which he sought early replies. He also harassed the officers, thereby not only encroaching upon the executive, but also running a parallel government.

"When the chief minister does not get an appointment for days and his recommendation to drop ministers is not responded to for a week, and when two BJP leaders are inside the Raj Bhawan when the state was burning, the governor meets the dissident MLAs at midnight, comes with them on December 14, goes back with them in a big convoy on December 18 and camps in Guwahati, this clearly reflected the intention of the governor," Taloh claimed.

"There is photographic evidence of dissident MLAs meeting central leaders to plan against state's ruling Congress Government," he claimed while responding to a question about the involvement of Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju's role in the episode.

"The governor, supported by the BJP, is the mentor, who acted behind the curtain to trigger the chaotic situation. This is not a fight to save the government or serve selfish interests, but against the unconstitutional acts of the governor to protect the Constitution. It is a fight between the people of India and those violating the Constitution and we are committed to continue the fight," said Taloh, adding that such acts were never seen before anywhere in the country.

Asked about Kalikho Pul's claim of toppling the Tuki-led government, he said that technically the Congress has a majority with 47 members in the 60-member house. Of these 47, 14 MLAs have been disqualified, the case of the resignation of two MLAs is sub-judice. After this, the government has 26 MLAs, and the rest five MLAs are in dissident group, whose combined strength comes to 18 with 11 BJP and two independent MLAs.

Can they form the government, he asked?

Can many of the BJP MPs revolting against the Narendrda Modi-led government form a government? Who is not aware of the anti-defection law, he reasoned.

Pointing out that the executive, legislature and judiciary are the three pillars of democracy with specific jurisdictions, Byaling said no system should encroach upon the other for democracy to function, but the governor did that in complete violation of the Constitution.

"I being the home minister did not allow a breach of law and order with the support of the masses", Byaling said, and urged the people and leaders of all parties to maintain that spirit.

He also urged the five INC MLAs to return to serve as mandated by the people.

When pointed out about the allegation that he blocked the highway on December 17, Byaling said he himself visited the spot at Papu Nallah between Itanagar and Naharlagun to lift the blockade.

About the age-old relations between the peoples of Assam and Arunachal, Byaling said the fraternal relations with the neighbouring Assam would not be allowed to be strained by the governor's unholy actions.

As the highway blockade was believed to be launched by the APYC, Nyamar said it was spontaneous by the masses, and not by his cadres.