Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Gegong Apang on Monday demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Pema Khandu following a Supreme Court-directed preliminary enquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into allegations related to the awarding of Public Works Department (PWD) contracts. Apang said the chief minister should step down immediately to ensure that the enquiry is conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner without any influence. The former chief minister referred to allegations that PWD contracts worth nearly Rs 1,270 crore were awarded to members of Khandu’s family over a period of around 10 years. He said the matter is serious and requires an impartial investigation.
In a statement, Apang said it would be politically and ethically inappropriate for Khandu to continue in office while facing a court-ordered enquiry involving allegations of corruption and nepotism. According to Apang, public confidence in the investigation process could be affected if the chief minister remains in power during the enquiry. He argued that since the CBI functions under the authority of the Union government, questions may arise over the fairness of the process if the sitting chief minister does not resign. “A CBI enquiry cannot be expected to be fully free and fair when the sitting chief minister belongs to the ruling party at the Centre,” Apang said, while raising concerns about the independence of the probe. He further stated that if Khandu remains in office and later receives a clean chit from the preliminary enquiry, many people may continue to question the credibility of the investigation.
The remarks have added a new political dimension to the ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged awarding of contracts. The issue has already attracted attention in Arunachal Pradesh political circles after the Supreme Court ordered a preliminary enquiry into the matter. So far, there has been no official response from Chief Minister Khandu or the state government regarding Apang’s demand for resignation.
