ITANAGAR, July 8 ? In an interesting development, Arunachal Pradesh Governor VC Pande, who had recommended Central rule in the State after dissolution of the Assembly yesterday, has told President APJ Abdul Kalam that he had signed his recommendation ?under duress? and sought its withdrawal, reports PTI.
?I regret to say that the signature in the said report was obtained under duress. Not only myself but also all my staff including the secretary were put under tremendous mental and physical pressure by all ex-MLAs and their political workers who stormed into my chamber and remained there gheraoing me for more than five hours,? he said in a letter to the President, copies of which were released to Press here last night.
Pande said, ?I therefore seek the indulgence of His Excellency to withdraw the aforesaid earlier report?. ?A prepared report was placed before me and I was asked to sign the same. I, therefore, request his excellency to ignore the earlier report purported to have been sent under my signature,? the Governor said in the letter.
Pande had recommended imposition of President?s Rule in the State after 23-members belonging to Congress, BJP, Congress-D and an independent met him at the Raj Bhavan here following the dissolution of the 60-member House.