Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Sep 14: The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Thursday alleged Chief Minister Pema Khandu of mismanaging state funds of over Rs 10,000 crores under the SADA, SIDF and RE during the 2016-17 financial years.
In a press briefing, APCC President Takam Sanjoy claimed that amount to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore was sanctioned under composite sanction, which was allegedly mismanaged by Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein.
“Sixty percent of 2016 Revised Estimate budget goes to two districts, namely Tawang and Namsai” alleged APCC President Takam Sanjoy claiming that not a single penny was sanctioned for Kra Daadi, Anjaw, Kurung Kumey and Anini districts.
The APCC President added that mismanagement of funds was evident in Chief Secretary Shakuntala D Gamlin’s letter to Finance Commissioner Ashish Kundra on July 24, 2017, asking him to urgently review the procedure laid out for FY 2016-17.
The Chief Secretary in her letter, which was made available to media persons by the APCC President, strongly observed that in the name of maintaining ‘strict financial discipline and propriety, it was evident that there is a considerable departure from the established procedure for obtaining concurrence of the Finance Department in respect of individual schemes/projects which has been replaced by a blanket clearance.
He further claimed that Chief Minister Pema Khandu had called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, seeking removal of Chief Secretary Gamlin from the post after she placed strong views against the current government’s management of funds.
The APCC appealed to the President of India to institute an independent inquiry through CBI over alleged mismanagement of the state funds, claiming that there was a criminal conspiracy to siphon off the funds. It also demanded resignation of Chief Minister Pema Khandu on moral ground.
On the centre’s clearance to grant citizenships to Chakma-Hajongs, the APCC opposed the centre’s move, stating that it would jeopardize the peaceful state by triggering social unrest. The Pradesh Congress further flayed Bharatiya Janata Party for its alleged leniency towards the Hindu refugees, saying that Congress never wants refugees to be citizens of India.
“Congress never granted citizenship to Chakma-Hajongs since 1969, and there was no written agreement between India and Bangladesh that Chakmas and Hajongs would be made citizens of India” said the APCC.
The party also questioned on why the BJP at the Centre is in a hurry to grant citizenship to refugees. “If at all Chakmas and Hajongs are to be given citizenship, they should first be deported from Arunachal, since they cannot be given ST status and land rights” said Sanjoy.
Granting citizenship to Chakmas and Hajongs is a part of BJP Government conspiracy to dilute the Arunachal demography” he said.
The APCC chief also blamed Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju for making Arunachal Pradesh, what he called a ‘haven for refugees’. He castigated both the CM and MoS for making the state allegedly a land of refugees.
“The destiny of the people of Arunachal cannot be bartered by Chief Minister Pema Khandu and MoS Kiren Rijiju”, Sanjoy said.
The party also demanded white paper from both the state and centre governments over rehabilitation of Tibetan refugees. The Congress party also demanded immediate registration of FIR filed against MoS Home, Deputy CM Chowna Mein on national flag cake-cutting episode.
It questioned on why the FIR has not been registered yet by the police authority.
The APCC also condemned BJP-led Government in the state for allegedly failing to resolve financial crisis. It stated that the BJP Government in the state has failed to disburse salary of SSA and RMSA teachers, and DRDA staff monthly salaries.
