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Journalism of Courage
Accusing then Chief Minister Nabam Tuki of communal politics by provoking fellow Nyishi tribesmen and funding public protests to seek his ouster, Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa, in his report to the Centre, said he and his family feared for their lives. He alleged he had been abused, threatened and nearly assaulted by some ministers.
Sources said the Governor’s report referred to repeated gherao of the Raj Bhavan and threats to burn it down while he and his family were inside. Rajkhowa claimed that Tuki’s ministers joined protesters when they sacrificed a Mithun outside the gates of the Raj Bhavan. He said if the Governor could be in such a situation, how secure would a common man be.
For several months, a minority government ran the state before the law and order machinery collapsed completely, the Governor was said to have stated in his report. He claimed that Tuki and his ministers had made it impossible for him to function by condemning him from public platforms and through statements in the press.
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Sources said Rajkhowa alleged that the Chief Minister did not respond to most of his letters on matters of public importance, and that bureaucrats, including the Chief Secretary, had been told not to submit any report to the Governor’s office without clearance from the Chief Minister or the minister concerned.
In his report, Rajkhowa claimed he was being called anti-development, anti-tribal and his Assamese origin was highlighted during protests. Sources said Rajkhowa mentioned the Nyishi Elite Society of mostly government officials which, he alleged, was being encouraged by Tuki to take on the Governor — both Tuki and Speaker Nabam Rebia are Nyishis.
Sources said the Governor also claimed that public organisations were seeking a CBI probe against Tuki following allegations of corruption and financial bungling. In the report to the Centre, he cited a specific allegation of payment of Rs 35 crore as hill transport subsidy to a close aide of Tuki.
The report, sources said, also claimed that three dissident MLAs had said they were pressured by NSCN (K) to support Tuki as Chief Minister. They filed an FIR alleging that a relative of one of the MLAs had been kidnapped and taken to Myanmar by an NSCN (K) member but this was not probed properly, Rajkhowa was said to have stated in his report.
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