Arunachal Governor assures security to MLAs

The governor convened a meeting of senior officers of the state and advised them to ensure that there was no law and order problem in the state.

Laws must be enforced in letter and spirit for safeguarding the interest of the common people, the governor told the officials including Chief Secretary Ramesh Negi in the meeting on Tuesday evening, a Raj Bhawan release said here on Wednesday. 

Stressing on security coverage for former chief minister and ministers, Rajkhowa said that nobody should have any problem and all the members of the state Assembly would get security cover as per entitlement. 

Rebellion in Congress had precipitated a political crisis in Arunachal Pradesh after its 21 MLAs, up in arms against the then Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, joined hands with 11 of BJP and two independents to ‘impeach’ the then Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue, a move branded as “illegal and unconstitutional” by the Speaker. Twentyseven MLAs in the 60-member Assembly, including Tuki and his ministerial colleagues, boycotted the proceedings. The rebels later “elected” another dissident Congressman Kalikho Pul as the new “chief minister” of the state. 

The Union Cabinet had recommended imposition of President’s Rule on Sunday in Congress-ruled Arunachal Pradesh, and the President gave his assent on Tuesday. The Centre has also appointed former Delhi Police Commissioner YS Dadwal and retired IAS officer GS Patnaik as advisors to the Governor. 

Rajkhowa instructed the Chief Secretary to issue a circular to all departments and offices to maintain transparency in decision- making and execution of various works and take firm action against corruption. He appealed to the people of the state “to carry on normal duties and in case of any difficulty, they might refer the matter to the Governor Secretariat”.