Opposition in Arunachal Pradesh demands resignation of Pema Khandu over PRC deaths

ITANAGAR: Opposition parties in Arunachal Pradesh have demanded the resignation of chief minister Pema Khandu over the death of three in the unrest that followed recently after the state’s attempts to grant permanent residence certificate ( PRC ) to six non-tribal communities in the state. On Tuesday, they said that Khandu should step down on moral grounds.

A meeting of all opposition parties was convened here under the chairmanship of former chief minister Gegong Apang, who recently joined Janata Dal (Secular). The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) led by its president Takam Sanjoy, National People’s Party (NPP) legislature party leader Tanga Byaling and People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) president Kahfa Bengia Sanjoy. An all-party coordination committee was formed which decided that a 15-member delegation would meet the state governor to submit a memorandum.

“Khandu’s ouster will be our main demand. If the governor fails to do so, an inquiry committee should be set up headed by either a sitting high court judge or retired chief justice and declare the victims—Risso Tari, Viki Ruja and Tsering Wangdi—as martyrs,” said Takam Sanjoy.

He added that the government had lost its right to rule because it tried to grant PRC to non-tribal communities and it was also trying to move it in the assembly on February 23. He blamed the government for failing to restore law and order in the state when hundreds poured out into the streets in protest against the government move.

He further alleged that there is little governance in the state because the chief secretary sometimes acts as the chief minister and vice versa. The situation further deteriorated when Army and paramilitary forces were sent to the state by Union minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju.

The APCC chief also blamed the state government for the rampage in Itanagar as state home minister Kumar Waii has gone on record saying he had not given the firing order to the police and was unaware who sought the Army and paramilitary forces. “The Army does not fire even in the most volatile situation in Kashmir but resorts to water cannon, lathi-charge, air firing or firing below waist to contain tension. But here, the unarmed agitators were fired at during the anti-PRC agitation,” he said.

North East JDS in-charge Okon Daggang, Congress Legislature Party leader Takam Pario, Congress MLA Mario Tado and PPA secretary general Kaling Jerang attended the meeting among others.