Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Dec 19: Members of the Arunachal Justice Forum (AJF) are on a 12-day sit-in protest at the tennis court here since 17 December to demonstrate their displeasure against corrupt practices in the state, and to press their unfulfilled demands.
Speaking to this daily, AJF General Secretary Tai Gagung said the protest was an attempt to “awaken the masses against corrupt practices,” and to call out the government on several irregularities which have gone unchecked.
He informed that they have written to the Prime Minister’s Office and several top political parties regarding the “unabated corruption” in the state, but are yet to receive a response from any quarter.
The sit-in protest, Gagung said, was only the beginning, and that they would continue their movement.
The AJF’s primary demands include re-investigation by the CBI/SIT into Mere Vichaar (the 60-page note allegedly written by former chief minister Kalikho Pul before his suicide); resignation of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, and Government Spokesperson PD Sona to pave way for a free and fair investigation into Pul’s death; and for Sona to return the Rs 4 crore which he allegedly took from Pul on 11 July, 2016.
It is also demanding the arrest of Pema for his alleged involvement in the infamous Tawang firing incident on 2 May, 2016, and for alleged illegal appointments, scams and other corrupt practices, based on FIRs lodged with the SIC and at police stations.
The protest will continue till 28 December, which will be followed by a protest in New Delhi.
“Our interim committee will hold discussions and head for Delhi soon after to continue our fight and achieve the demands,” Gagung said, adding that social activist Anna Hazare would also join them in the movement.
Gagung informed that various activists from the state would later join Hazare in his movement against corruption in Delhi next year.
