ITANAGAR : The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Monday demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Pema Khandu on moral grounds, alleging that the state government was not cooperating with a Supreme Court-directed CBI preliminary inquiry.

In a statement, APCC working president Tanga Byaling alleged that the state administration was reluctant to assist the central agency in probing public works contracts worth around Rs 1,270 crore, reportedly awarded to firms linked to Khandu’s relatives.

Byaling said the matter had entered the domain of judicial scrutiny and alleged that the Supreme Court had summoned the state’s Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (Home) after the CBI submitted reports flagging non-cooperation.

The party questioned why the top court had to intervene when the chief minister had publicly welcomed the probe on April 6, and assured full cooperation.

The opposition party claimed that the ruling BJP’s slogan of ‘Zero Tolerance Against Corruption’ stands exposed, adding that Khandu’s resignation is essential to ensure a free, fair, and impartial investigation without any conflict of interest The APCC also raised concerns over recent administrative reshuffles and transfers of officials in departments whose records fall under the scope of the CBI inquiry, urging the government to ensure that no tender files, work orders, or digital records are altered, delayed, or destroyed.

Demanding complete transparency, the Congress called on the state government to hand over all requested documents to investigators, publish a status report detailing its cooperation, and ensure protection for officials and whistleblowers facilitating the probe. (Source: PTI)