NEW DELHI, July 13 ? Beleaguered caretaker Chief Minister, Gegong Apang today came to the defence of State Governor VC Pande, pleading that the Centre should allow him to complete his term that expires in four months. His reactions came following reports that the Central Government has made up its mind to remove the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh for his role during the recent political crisis. He sent in three conflicting reports to the President within a span of 24 hours, creating all-round confusion at the Centre. ?I appeal to the Central Government not to disturb him. The Governor has not done anything wrong. His term expires on November 22 and there are hardly four months left,? Apang argued.
Meanwhile, the tussle at the Centre continued, with Apang today dismissing reports of the possibility of his re-joining the Congress Party. He also denied the claim by the Congress that majority of the BJP?s ex-MLAs have joined the Congress Party. Addressing a press conference here today, Apang tried to turn the tables on the Congress Party by charging that the agitated Congress-men had pressurised the Governor to put his signature on the letter recommending President?s Rule using the name of a Central leader. However, he declined to identify the Central leader, asserting that he had no way of knowing who he was. Let us wait for the interim inquiry report on the incident,? he said.
Referring to the incident, he said that the security in-charge has been suspended for not informing the police, and a Deputy Secretary has lodged an FIR with the police after his glasses were smashed by the members. Reports of the Centre contemplating to impose President?s Rule after removing the Governor has landed the Chief Minister?s in a tight spot. ?Whosoever may be at the Centre they should respect the Constitution and should not act outside its purview,? he said. Apang?s case is that President?s Rule under Article 356 of the Constitution cannot be imposed in a State where the Assembly has been dissolved under Article 174. He argues that the caretaker Government should be allowed to continue till elections are held in the State.
Meanwhile, Apang today met the President supporting the Governor?s action and to explain his side of the story. Yesterday, the rival Congress group met the President to demand imposition of President?s Rule. Both the groups have come armed with CDs recording the events in Raj Bhavan. Newsmen were later showed the edited version of the seven-hour-long drama in which the agitated Congress MLAs were shown threatening Pande if he refused to put in his signature.