NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 14 (PTI): Nabam Tuki, ousted Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, today accused the Centre of conspiring to install a government comprising dissident Congress MLAs and BJP by revoking President's Rule in the state and said any such move will be "completely unconstitutional".
It will be in violation of law as the matter is already before the Supreme Court, he contended and warned of political instability and law and order problems in Arunachal Pradesh if a "khichdi" government is formed in the state.
"I have come to know that all dissident MLAs and BJP MLAs were taken to Arunachal Pradesh through a chartered plane first to Assam and then in helicopters to Itanagar.
"The MLAs are lodged in two hotels in Itanagar and they are waiting to meet the Governor to stake claim to form the government under the leadership of Kalikho Pul," Tuki told PTI.
Tuki, the leader of the Congress Legislature Party, said if the dissidents and BJP MLAs form a government it would be completely unconstitutional and against the law as the Supreme Court is still hearing a case regarding the imposition of President's rule in the state and dismissal of his government.
The revolt by Congress dissidents led by Kalikho Pul led to a political crisis in the state that finally led to imposition of President's rule on January 26.
All 21 dissident MLAs had been camping in New Delhi for a long time after revolting against the Tuki government. They were joined by 11 BJP MLAs and two independents.
Tuki reportedly has the support of 26 MLAs in the 60-member Assembly.
The former Chief Minister accused Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, of conspiring with the dissident Congress MLAs.
"He (Rijiju) is the person doing everything. He has sponsored the MLAs, providing security to them and destabilising my government. He had succeeded in it. "Now the central government is conspiring to form a government," he said.
Tuki said if a "Khichdi (potpourri) government is formed, it will not last long as there would be law and order problems and political instability".
"Such a government will not last. I have come to know that after forming the government, they would recommend mid-term poll," he said.
Assembly election in Arunachal Pradesh was held along with the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
Congress party, which had 47 MLAs in the 60-member assembly, suffered a jolt when 21 of its lawmakers rebelled.
Eleven BJP MLAs and two independents backed the rebels in the bid to upstage the government.
Later, 14 rebel Congress MLAs were disqualified by the Speaker.
The Supreme Court, which is considering pleas against imposition of President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh, is hearing petitions seeking examination of constitutional schemes on the scope of discretionary powers of the Governor.
Rajkhowa takes exception to handling of refugee issue
Itanagar, February 14 (PTI): Arunachal Pradesh Governor JP Rajkhowa has taken strong exception to the poor performance of the state's legal team on the Chakma-Hajong refugee issue and directed that the matter be reviewed and represented once again.
Rajkhowa yesterday asked the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary (Home) to immediately hire the best lawyers to take up the matter in Supreme Court, Raj Bhawan said in a communiqu today. The governor also expressed shock as to why the previous state government had not hired a battery of eminent lawyers in the Chakma-Hajong case. The state lost the case in SC because it did not earnestly pursue it, he said, adding that the rights of the indigenous tribes of Arunachal Pradesh has to be protected as enshrined in the Constitution.
Rajkhowa directed the Chief Secretary to pay personal attention to the Chakma-Hajong imbroglio, the communiqu added. In September last year, SC had passed an order asking the state government and the Centre to give permanent settlement to the Chakma-Hajong refugees in Arunachal Paradesh. The state goverment is opposing this order.
