BJP seeks 'white paper' in Arunachal

Opposition BJP in Arunachal Pradesh today sought a "white paper" from the new Congress government on the circumstances in which the fifth Legislative Assembly was dissolved on the midnight of March 6 before the expiry of its term.

"If financial crisis was the cause then what was the reason behind demanding simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls?" asked Leader of Opposition Tamiyo Taga, who demanded the 'white paper'.

The tenure of the fifth assembly was upto October 2014 but the state held the assembly polls along with the parliamentary election. In the simultaneous polls, the Congress returned to power by winning 42 seats, including 11 unopposed, in the 60-member assembly.

State Home minister Tanga Byaling responding to Taga's remark said the assembly was dissolved and simultaneous elections were recommended to minimise election expenditure.

He called upon all members of the house to support the government in its endeavour for a better Arunachal Pradesh and asked the Opposition to wait and watch its performance for at least six months before making any accusation.

Taga, who took part in the discussion on the motion of thanks on the governor's address to the new house, alleged that the state's financial condition was in "a deplorable state" and questioned the government's credibility in managing it.

Expressing concern over the alleged financial crisis in the state following its Rs 100 crore overdraft from the apex bank, he said, "RBI on April 25 had issued an order to the nationalised banks in the state to stop payment to Arunachal Pradesh government following the huge overdraft."

He asked the government to 'come clean on the status of the present financial position of the state' while alleging that fund meant for various central flagship programmes were being parked with the state government exchequer instead of placing it under the concerned departments for payment of salaries.

"The diversion of fund to pay salaries to government employees has slowed the progress of various centrally sponsored schemes in the state," he said and urged the government to work in the people's interest and honour their mandate.

The members later adopted the motion by voice vote and Speaker Nabum Rebia adjourning the house sine die.