Tuki hits out at RSS, BJP; says Cong govts in N-E targeted

Former Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Nabam Tuki on Saturday blamed RSS and BJP for the dismissal of his government, alleging that their aim was to topple all Congress governments in the Northeast.

Tuki, whose Congress government was dismissed by imposition of President’s rule on January 26 after 21 party MLAs revolted against him, also alleged that Governor JP Rajkhowa and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju worked “to overthrow his democratically elected popular government”.

“The whole dissidence was funded and controlled by RSS and BJP. They just want to topple all Congress governments in the Northeast. RSS and BJP were firing through the shoulders of Congress dissident MLAs,” he said at a press conference here.

Tuki’s statement came a day after leader of the Congress dissidents, Kalikho Pul, was sworn in as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh following withdrawal of President’s rule.

The former Chief Minister, flanked by 26 MLAs loyal to him, said whenever the NDA came to power, the governments in Arunachal Pradesh were destabilised –be it in the time of (former Chief Ministers) Gegong Apang or be it during Mukut Mithi.

Tuki claimed every effort was made by Governor Rajkhowa “to trample on democracy and defy the Constitution” to remove the Congress government.

“There was no reason to dismiss my government. There was no law and order problem, there was no internal disturbance.

Still, President’s rule was imposed undemocratically and unconstitutionally,” he said.

The Congress leader accused Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju of supporting and instigating dissident MLAs against his (Tuki’s) leadership.

Demanding removal of Rajkhowa as Governor, former Congress MP Takam Sanjay said democracy and Constitution “were murdered in Arunachal Pradesh and this may lead to serious law and order problems in the sensitive border state”.

“Modi ji, please stop treating us as second class citizen. We are as much Indian as anyone else. Don’t turn Arunachal Pradesh as another Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.