Arunachal Pradesh CM Mukut Mithi, whose government was tottering after former CM Gegong Apang paraded 41 MLAs before Governor V C Pande to stake claim, today alleged that a ‘‘big money game’’ was on to lure his legislators.He accused the BJP of playing into the hands of insurgent outfit NSCN (I-M) which was out to intimidate his legislators.Speaking about it, Mithi said ‘‘money was pouring in’’ to lure legislators. He also sought to link recent Chinese statements on AP with the move to topple him, saying it was China which had initially propped up the NSCN (I-M).‘‘It was the Chinese who had provided initial patronage and training to NSCN. Today, two developments are happening simultaneously. On one hand, NSCN (IM) is using Apang and BJP. On the other hand, you have the Chinese reiterating their claim over AP,’’ he said. ‘‘I will go by what the Constitution says. I am ready to prove my strength on the floor of the House,’’ Mithi said.With Apang parading MLAs at Raj Bhavan, word is now awaited from the Governor on whether Mithi should step down or prove his strength in the House.Apang, on his part, seemed sure he had the requisite numbers: ‘‘I have the majority. Mithi has no right to remain in office.’’In New Delhi, the Congress high command appeared to have been caught napping over the Arunachal developments. Angry members stalled the Rajya Sabha, accusing the Centre of behind-the-scene moves in the toppling game. The House was adjourned after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj rejected the charge against the Government.Congress leaders plan to ask the Prime Minister tomorrow not to give any legitimacy to the exercise aimed at bringing down the Mithi government. The party is waiting for a report from Dalbir Singh, Congress secretary in-charge of Arunachal. After assessing the situation, it plans to send AICC general secretary Oscar Fernandes to the state who today reminded the Centre of its ‘‘duty to protect a duly elected government in a sensitive state’’ like Arunachal Pradesh.‘‘It is not the question of numbers or toppling governments. We are going to ask the Prime Minsiter to make sure that this does not happen. The CM has been asking the Centre for help. There was an action plan for flushing out insurgents, there was a request for more Central forces. None of these requests were met,’’ he said.Raising the issue in Rajya Sabha, Arjun Singh of Congress sought to link the recent Chinese incursion with political happenings. Without naming the NSCN outfit, Singh said the Centre was ‘‘playing with fire in the North East by allowing certain elements with whom it is engaged in peace talks to change the political map of the country.’’ Blaming ‘‘some ministers in the Union Cabinet’’ for the Arunachal happenings, he said: ‘‘The PM may not be aware of what some of his colleagues are doing in the North East.’’But Manmohan Singh, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, was more direct, saying the Centre should accept responsiblility for the Arunachal developments since it was in the midst of talks with a militant outfit now being seen as terrorising leaders to change the political complexion of the state.
