Union defence minister Rajnath Singh (C) at the e-launch of the road | Photo courtesy: PIB

The Congress party in Arunachal Pradesh on June 27 claimed that there was a bigger conspiracy behind the Kimin episode.

A ‘fact-finding team’ of Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), led by its vice president Techi Tegi Tara, visited Kimin subdivision, where the inauguration programme of the 20-km Kimin-Potin road, constructed by the Border Roads Organization (BRO), had taken place.

“The APCC team interacted with the officers and public of the area only to find out that the BJP-led state government is hatching a bigger conspiracy beneath,” a statement from APCC said on June 27.

“It is to identify that the Kimin-Potin road inauguration was held under the revenue jurisdiction of Papum Pare deputy commissioner, GoAP. Whereas Bilgarh in Assam, as announced in the BRO road inauguration programme itinerary is approximately 17 kilometres away from the zero-point of the road which is adjacent to office of the additional deputy commissioner of Kimin, GoAP,” the APCC said.

It said that despite protests from the public, the covering of old sign board and foundation stone where it has written Kimin, Arunachal Pradesh, was wilfully done and shown as under the Assam territory by BRO.

The Congress also stated that Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu had a meeting with Brigadier AS Chonker, chief engineer i/c Project Arunank of BRO three days prior to the road inauguration programme. “In such circumstances, the CM would have known all the foul play,” the party alleged.

Arunachal Police not given any responsibility at Kimin: Congress

The APCC also said that in view of the visit of Union defence minister to Arunachal Pradesh, the state police department were not in the scene of arrangements of proof security for VVIPs, regulating traffic, public gathering, maintain law and order.

“The APCC-fact finding team is convinced that it definitely has ill motive to convert undisputed Kimin HQ to disputed area and also to fuel the boundary tension between Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, especially when territorial dispute case of the two state is lying sub-judice at the Supreme Court. The case is at ‘evidence stage’ and the very act of ‘white paste’ of old sign board is unauthorised interference and alteration to cause damage to Arunachal Pradesh,” the party said.

Bigger conspiracy behind Kimin episode, alleges Arunachal Congress

APCC said that a proper investigation must be done and the culprits must be booked as per law of the land.

Techi Tegi Tara, chairperson of the fact-finding team, said that they demand an explanation from Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Kiren Rijiju and CM Pema Khandu on the issue. Tara added that the party also demands the foundation stone of the road inauguration and Subansiri gate at RTC-ITBP to be replaced with new stone plate where name of Kimin, District Papumpare, Arunachal Pradesh be inserted and the inter-state police check gate/post to be relocated from present location to forest check gate/welcome gate for the “safety” of the Kimin town.

On June 26, the Border Roads Organisation tendered an apology to the people of Arunachal Pradesh for renaming Kimin as ‘Bilgarh’ in Assam, and for covering Arunachal’s name with white paste during defence minister Rajnath Singh’s recent visit to Kimin to inaugurate roads.

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