APCC condemns MLA’s comment on former minister

Staff Reporter

ITANAGAR, 24 Oct: The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Tuesday condemned the comment on former minister Takam Pario by MLA Balo Raja during a ‘development meeting’ in Chambang in Kra Daadi district on 20 October.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, APCC spokesperson Bem Maching said, “It was a developmental programme which was held on 20 October in Chambang, under Palin constituency, where all HoDs, other officers and members of the public were present.”

“However, it turned into a BJP political meeting, and whatever speech was given by MLA Balo Raja was to mislead the officers and the public of Chambang,” Maching said.

“Raja said that former minister Takam Pario failed to bring developmental activities to Palin during his two terms as the local legislator. This is false and intended to mislead the public against Pario,” Maching said.

“There was plenty of development in the constituency under Pario, including creation of Kra Daadi district, CDB Yangte, and CD block Gangte. And around 12 important bridges and numerous road projects were initiated during his tenure within the constituency,” the APCC spokesperson said.

“Besides that, there were several other developmental projects in various departments, such as tourism, PHED, health, education, sports, horticulture, forest, etc, and without knowing the facts, how can an MLA issue such kind of false statement against someone?” he sought to know.

Maching alleged that Raja had during the meeting “warned officers and labourers that action would be taken against them if they do not support him in the coming election.”

He alleged also that “the developmental meeting was turned into a political party meeting, and all the officers delivered speeches in support of MLA Balo Raja, which is violation of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964.”

Further, expressing dissatisfaction over the cabinet’s decision to upgrade Chambang circle to a subdivision, Maching said that, “in actual terms, Chambang’s public is demanding a full-fledged additional deputy commissioner office, not an SDO headquarters.”