APPSC Paper leak fiasco: PAJSC & other pressure groups mulling statewide agitation; flays govt role

As such a massive rally was witnessed at Pasighat today, where people in large numbers as well as members of the All East Siang Student-Aspirant Joint Committee took part, in

REPORTED BY MAKSAM TAYENG

The Pan Arunachal Joint Steering Committee (PAJSC) along with other pressure groups have threatened to intensify the agitation alleging that the government is yet to take concrete steps pertaining to the APPSC paper leak fiasco.

As such a massive rally was witnessed at Pasighat today, where people in large numbers as well as members of the All East Siang Student-Aspirant Joint Committee took part, in support of the fulfillment of the 13-point charter of demands of PAJSC.

Briefing newspersons, rights activist Sol Dodum flayed the role of the Pema Khandu government as far as arrest of former chairman of the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) Nipo Nabam is concerned.

Dodum questioning the role of the government said,”1 month has passed by (since February 18) but Nipo Nabam is yet to be arrested. Is Nipo Nabam being shielded? I wonder if some evil force is shielding Nipo Nabam from getting arrested. This is what, one needs to ponder upon. If he is so clean than the government has to give it in writing. The government cannot be one sided. We do not recognize this government.”

Dodum further said that the agitation will soon be taken to other parts of the state. “Today it is in Pasighat, but we will take to the streets in every district. We will not stop here,”the activist said.

Nipo Nabam, former chairman of the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) is accused of being involved in the APPSCCE (Mains) 2014 question paper leak case.

Meanwhile, Pro Dam Movement leader Tao Pol, said,”If people stand united and fight against the APPSC fiasco, it will not survive for long. I appeal to all people in Arunachal Pradesh to be ready to take to the streets just like thousands of people have joined the rally today. We will start it after the month of March ends.”

On the other hand, Chairperson of Arunachal Nari Shakti, also demanded that the government must urgently look into the matter while stating that the aspirants were unhappy with the government stand on 13-point charter of demands put forward by the PAJSC.

Earlier, in a big breakthrough on February 18, and much to the relief of the hundreds of protesting APPSC aspirants and their parents, the Arunachal Government is understood to have accepted their demands, sources said.

It may be mentioned that the development came after a seven -hour long meeting between the Pan Arunachal Joint Steering Committee (PAJSC) members and Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu at the Secretariat in Itanagar. It is, however, not yet known if the government has agreed to all 13 of their demands.

The meeting was attended by Arunachal rights activist Sol Dodum along with few parents of the aspirants.

The 13 point charter of demands put forth by the PAJSC includes:

1.The chairman, secretary, members and all other official of APPSC from 2014 to 2022 must be immediately brought under the purview of investigation. If any discrepancies are reported, arrests must be made immediately.

2. Immediate constitution of fast- track court for prosecution of the accused involved in the APPSC paper leakage scams.
3. Immediate establishment of state administrative tribunal.
4. Immediate endorsement of (enforcement directorate) and court monitored probe and also immediate seizure of assets/properties (movable and immovable) of all the accused and the incumbents of APPSC along with their kit and kin.
5. Immediate disclosure of the status of the various departmental enquiry reports initiated so far against the various suspended or arrested officials and subsequent dismissal/ termination thereof.
6. Immediate disclosure of the three member committee report.
7. Suspension of all the upcoming examination till the completion of investigation process and endorse UPSC to conduct the upcoming examination till the completion of investigation process.
8. The higher officials above the rank of Deputy Secretary serving between 2014 to 2022 must be investigated and arrested if necessary.
9. Any exam found to have involved malpractices like paper leakage scams must be immediately declared ‘null and void’.
10. Inclusion of two members from the aspirants in the preparation of SOP (standard operating procedure) of APPSC.
11. Immediate legislation and implementation of whistle blower act with special provisions for the protection and rewards to the whistle blowers.
12. Justice for Mudang Yabyang, person with Disability (PWD) and the streamlining of selection criteria for PWD candidates.
13. Immediate recalling of the three officials posted under APPSC

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