October 12, 2024
October 12, 2024
Staff REPORTER
ITANAGAR, Jun 16: The Mere Vichaar Andolan Committee (MVAC), once again on Friday staged a mass dharna at the Tennis Court in IG Park here in which it particularly demanded parliamentary secretary for tourism Passang Dorjee Sona to return the Rs 4 crore which he had allegedly taken from former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister late Kalikho Pul as mentioned in the latter’s suicide note.
MVAC, is a conglomeration of several organizations from the state formed to seek justice for late Pul.
47-year-old Pul, who was found hanging at the chief minister’s residence in Itanagar on August 9 last year had written a 60-page note titled Mere Vichaar (My thoughts), in which he had alleged Sona of taking Rs 4 crore from him. Pul, through his notes had also accused former and serving Supreme Court judges, senior law officers, politicians and others holding high office of being involved in corruption.
Participating in the dharna, Pul’s first wife of Dangwimsai Pul said, “I did speak with Sona and asked him to return the money but he denied receiving any money from my late husband which is not the case. He (Sona) instead asked me to meet him so that the matter could be discussed.”
Dangwimsai further disclosed that she accordingly sent Ojingso, her eldest son to meet the parliamentary secretary but Sona, instead of sorting out the issue asked Ojingso to go out from his house.
Sona himself wanted to discuss the matter initially but now he is ignoring us. But I am sure truth will prevail and the facts will unearth soon, said Dangwimsai.
MVAC convener Kaling Tasing said that, according to Section 32 (1), Indian Evidence Act 1872 a suicide note left by a person before his death is treated as dying declaration and that declaration itself is evidence that the leaders of the state and country are corrupted.
Tasing added that they are not against the BJP government but all they are demanding is a change in the leadership for greater interest of the state.
He also appealed the people to support MVAC on its genuine fight against corruption in the state.
The agitators later also burnt down effigy of the chief minister, his deputy and the parliamentary secretary.
The sitting dharna which was earlier announced to hold outside the residence of Sona had to be shifted after the district administration denied permission.
The other demands of the MVAC include immediate stepping down of chief minister Pema Khandu, deputy chief minister Chowna Mein and Sona from their respective posts so that a free and fair enquiry can be initiated on the allegations levelled by Pul.
