Pasighat West MLA Ninong Ering on Tuesday made a startling allegation on the floor of the state legislative assembly by alleging that illegal appointments took place in the department of education.
The nature of his allegation forced both Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Education Minister Taba Tedir to respond. Both have assured swift enquiry and declared that action will be taken if the allegation is found true.
MLA Ering has done the right thing by taking up this issue in the assembly. This is how the opposition leaders are supposed to work in a democracy.
In fact, Wednesday was a rare day when both Congress MLAs- Ering and former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki took on the ruling BJP.
Participating in the motion of thanks to the governor’s speech, Tuki claimed that the governor missed the industrial corridor highway project from Bhalukpong to Kimin, the Trans-Arunachal Highway, employment generation, and economic services of the state.
Rarely in the Arunachal assembly do the opposition leaders criticize the ruling government.
Former MLA Laeta Umbrey was perhaps the last opposition leader who was very vocal in raising issues on the floor of the assembly. One of the main reasons for the underdevelopment of the state is the lack of a strong opposition.
The ruling establishment dominates every sphere of our lives and people and opposition leaders always try to be in the good books of the ruling party. This gives immense clout to the ruling parties to undertake programmes and policies at their whims and fancies. Hopefully, in the coming years, two senior stalwart opposition leaders, Tuki and Ering will continue to raise the issues that concern the people of the state.