New Delhi: Expressing confidence that the Supreme Court would provide justice to the people of Arunachal Pradesh, former chief minister Nabam Tuki on Monday accused Governor J P Rajkhowa of harassing the state government and officials.
“The matter is under sub-judice and hearing is taking place in the Supreme Court and is likely to come up today. We are expecting justice will prevail to the people of Arunachal Pradesh,” he told ANI when asked to comment on the hearing in the apex court.
Tuki emphasized that the former governors worked in close coordination with the state government.
“The governor’s role is defined by the law. But whosoever is posted to Arunachal Pradesh should be a neutral one in my opinion. Earlier, General JJ Singh was posted. He served there for five years and he made team Arunachal Pradesh. He was very good to the people of Arunachal Pradesh. He was a neutral person and did excellently well,” he said.
Tuki further said a ‘politically appointee’ Governor Rajkhowa made a political statement criticizing the state government just after the swearing-in ceremony.
“And after two days, he wrote a letter to the state government to give detailed information regarding what is functioning in the state. And on an everyday basis, there were lots of reports, inquiries, observations, explanations, so many questions he raised. So, our officers and officials were busy in replying to his queries. It was almost harassing the government and government officials,” he added.
The former chief minister reiterated that the Governor behaved badly with them.
“Yes, it was told earlier also. And how the camera was fixed in the meeting room, it had never happened in the past. How the security people had gathered? How our ministers were being frisked and their security was being checked?” he said.
Tuki’s remark came hours before the apex court will hear the petitions filed by the Congress Party challenging the imposition of President’s rule in Arunachal Pradesh.
A five-judge bench headed by Justice J.S. Khehar had earlier on Wednesday posted the matter for today.
The Centre had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court on Friday to justify the imposition of President’s rule. The affidavit, filed by Ministry of Home Affairs, claimed that there was complete breakdown of governance and law and order in the state.
The Centre told the apex court that Arunachal Pradesh has been witness to recurrent insurgency as well as attempts by China to claims large parts of its territory.
The affidavit also referred to six reports forwarded by the Governor to the President and to the Ministry, corroborating the reasons for proclamation of Emergency and maintaining that there was political instability in the state and a war-like situation.
The affidavit was settled by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who was asked by the five-judge constitution bench to respond to the petitions challenging the imposition of central rule.
The petitions include the plea of Rajesh Tacho, the chief whip of Congress Legislature party in the state assembly which is now kept under suspended animation. (ANI)