Arunachal Pradesh crisis: BJP alleges its MLAs were receiving threat calls

Itanagar: The BJP in Arunachal Pradesh on Friday alleged that many of its MLAs have been receiving threat calls from supporters of Congress.

"Security threats are looming large with fear psychosis prevailing in the state capital. Our MLAs and leaders have been threatened," BJP state unit president Tai Tagak told reporters at Arunachal Press Club (APC) here.

Denying allegations that BJP has engineered political crisis in the state, Tagak said the Congress was responsible for the current political crisis, which compelled the Centre to promulgate President's rule in the state.

"Infighting and factional feud among the Congress which started from November 2, 2014 is responsible for the current political turmoil in the state and we have nothing to do with affairs of other parties," Tagak said.

"Where was the AICC leadership which could resolve the issue through negotiation? Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi denied appointments to the rival party leaders in the last one year," Tagak alleged.

"The Congress leaders of the state should seek public apology for the current political mess," he said.

Dwelling on the circumstances which led to imposition of Central rule in the state, the BJP president while quoting Constitutional experts, said there was a failure of the constitutional machinery after the state assembly failed to meet for over six months.

"There is a constitutional requirement that there should not be a gap of more than six months between two sessions of a state assembly. If there is a gap of more than six months, there is certainly a constitutional crisis," Tagak said quoting former Lok Sabha secretary general P T D Achari.

He said the last session was held in May last year and the next session should be convened by the second week of November last.

"According to Article 174 (1) of the Constitution, there should not be a gap of more than six months between the assembly's last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session," he said.

"The legality of the session conducted on December 16 and 17 last by Deputy Speaker T N Thongdok is under question before a constitution bench of the Supreme Court," he pointed.

He said, when people of the state were suffering, being the responsible opposition party, the BJP was compelled to bring an impeachment motion against Speaker Nabam Rebia, he clarified responding to the allegations that the party had supported the rival Congress camp to destabilise the government.

Tagak disclosed that a high level delegation of the party yesterday called on Governor J P Rajkhowa and urged him to overhaul and streamline the administration and to initiate an enquiry of financial mis-management by the government regarding fund diversion from plan to non-plan and civil deposits including fund received from the 14th Finance Commission.

The delegation also submitted 16-point suggestions to the governor, he added.

Meanwhile, the party has appealed to the Governor and the chief secretary to strictly implement the office memorandum issued by the Governor after promulgation of Central rule in the state.

Responding to a query, Tagak added that the party was ready to face mid-term poll if the situation compelled.