Staff Reporter
TAWANG, Apr 10: The Tawang District Congress Committee (DCC) has lodged a complaint against Chief Minister Pema Khandu for allegedly inciting violence against supporters of the Indian National Congress (INC) candidate, Geshe Thupten Kunphen.
In a letter to the chief election commissioner (CEC) in New Delhi, DCC president Sangey Phuntsok claimed unfair electoral campaign in Mukto assembly constituency.
He alleged that Khandu, who is the BJP candidate for the Mukto seat, sent party goons to incite villagers and his workers to attack supporters of INC candidate Kunphen.
“The INC election agents were stopped and chased away from Bongleng village recently by BJP workers. They behaved in a similar manner during a road show on 31 March in Kharung. On both occasions, the returning officer, the superintendent of police and the election observer were informed, but the administration is not taking the matter seriously. Such situations could have been avoided if forces were deployed on time by the officials concerned,” Phuntsok said.
Requesting the CEC to address the matter on priority, Phuntsok said, “As elections (in Mukto) are occurring after two decades, it is hoped that the fearful voters are given a semblance of hope in a democracy and the strong institutions of justice, liberty and equality this country has set up for itself.”
While Khandu could not be contacted for a statement on the allegations, a close aide said the allegations were completely false, and that Khandu would never propagate violence.
“He follows the ethics of democracy and wants to participate in the democratic process himself. If such an incident has occurred, he will talk to the villagers as he was not aware of this,” the aide informed.
Elections are being held in the Mukto assembly constituency in Tawang district after 20 years.
Former chief minister Dorjee Khandu had remained unopposed in Mukto before his son, Pema Khandu, took over the reins after his father’s demise in 2011.
