AKKDSU calls 12-hour bandh in Itanagar

Itanagar, Jul 19 (UNI) The All Kurung Kumey District Students' Union (AKKDSU) today called a 12-hour capital complex bandh on July 22 despite the Arunachal Pradesh government's appeal to different organisations not to give frequent bandh calls as they were hampering the development of the state.

AKKDSU sources said the bandh was called to demand state Education Minister Tatar Kipa's resignation from the Cabinet for his alleged involvement in the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) fund misappropriation case.

State government spokesperson Tako Dabi informed in a meeting recently that the government had already constituted a fact-finding committee, headed by state Fisheries and Libraries Minister Atum Welly, to enquire into the allegations regarding misappropriation of Rs 43 lakh under the SSA in Kurung Kumey district.

Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu also reiterated his government's commitment to maintain complete transparency in dealing with any case of misappropriation of government funds and claimed that it was evident from the composition of the fact-finding committee constituted in the SSA funds scam case.

Mr Dabi, who also holds the Water Resource Department portfolio in the Dorjee Khandu-led Ministry, further clarified that the demand for a minister's resignation by various organisations and calling a bandh was ''unfortunate'' as inducting or dropping a minister was the sole prerogative of the Chief Minister.

However, the AKKDSU stated that the union was committed to fight against the rampant corruption taking place particularly in Kurung Kumey district.

The AKKDSU had decided to go ahead with its first phase of capital bandh on July 22, to be followed by second and third phase agitations to be announced later, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the All Papum Pare District Students Union (APPDSU) condemned the proposed capital complex bandh call by the AKKDSU and urged them to withdraw it.

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