Arunachal Pradesh Controversy: CMO Rejects Contract Award Allegations

The Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister's Office has dismissed media reports alleging improper contract awards to firms linked to CM Pema Khandu's relatives. The CMO claims these reports are politically motivated and not reflective of the state's submissions to the Supreme Court. The state has complied with court directives.

The Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister's Office (CMO) has dismissed allegations in media reports, calling them "partial" and "unfounded." The claims pertain to a Supreme Court order that the state government provide details of all contracts awarded from 2015 to 2025, including those to firms related to CM Pema Khandu.

In a statement to Press Trust of India, the CMO accused political rivals of influencing these reports, which it says focus solely on the petitioners' claims and ignore the state's inputs to the top court. According to the CMO, only a minor portion of roughly Rs 1,000 crore in contracts was awarded to firms linked to Khandu's family.

The Supreme Court has ordered the state to file detailed affidavits on the matter. The CMO emphasized that the contract awards were largely transparent, conducted via tendering processes. The controversy has yet again put the state's governance practices under scrutiny.

(With inputs from agencies.)