Apang: Conspiracy theory

Guwahati, Sept. 5: Slapped with a CBI inquiry for corruption, former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Gegong Apang today lost no time in terming the move as an attempt to “politically assassinate” him.

Gauhati High Court has admitted a PIL seeking a CBI inquiry to probe the acquisition of assets disproportionate to Apang’s known sources of income.

The PIL stated that Apang had amassed huge wealth during his tenure as chief minister.

“There has been an attempt to politically assassinate me in Arunachal Pradesh and a group of persons led by Takam Sanjoy, the adviser to the chief minister, is involved in it,” Apang told reporters today.

Apang was the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh from 1980 to 1999 and again from August 2003 to April 2007, when he was replaced by Dorjee Khandu.

He also alleged that there have been several attempts on his life. “I have apprised the party high command regarding the conspiracy against me.”

Regarding allegations that the failure of the Arunachal Pradesh Co-operative Apex Bank was because of fraudulent withdrawal of funds by his government, Apang said it was during the regime of his predecessor that the bank ran into rough weather.

“I, in fact, took keen interest in reviving the bank since it was my brainchild. By the time I came to know of its condition, it had reached a point of no return,” he said.

When asked whether he would return to power in Arunachal Pradesh, the chief minister said it was up to the party high command to decide.

Apang said he had full faith in the judiciary and “the evil design” to finish him politically would not succeed.

“The essence of democracy is the rule of the law, which is grossly ignored by the present rule in the state,” he said.

Apang had resigned as chief minister after a stint of 19 years in 1999.

He was elected leader of the newly-formed United Democratic Front, a coalition of his own political party, the Arunachal Congress and several others, in 2003.

A few months later, Apang and the MLAs supporting him merged with the BJP, making Arunachal Pradesh the first BJP-ruled state in the Northeast.