UKHRUL: According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), the Congress on Monday alleged a ₹130-crore land compensation scam linked to the Lada–Sarli stretch of the Arunachal Frontier Highway project, accusing the BJP-led governments at both the Centre and the state of failing to uphold transparency and accountability.
Addressing a press conference, Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bosiram Siram described the case as one of the largest land compensation scams in the state’s history and called for immediate corrective measures. He said the alleged irregularities—including manipulation of land records, fraudulent claims, inflated compensation amounts and misuse of public funds—indicated a “well-planned scam” rather than a mere administrative error.
Siram asserted that such large-scale financial misconduct could not have taken place without political patronage or wilful negligence at higher levels. He demanded that the state government release a detailed white paper within a month, outlining the land acquisition process, verification of records, identification of beneficiaries, disbursement of compensation and the roles played by officials and political executives, PTI reported.
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The APCC chief also sought the resignation of Union minister Kiren Rijiju, Chief Minister Pema Khandu and state Home Minister Mama Natung on moral grounds, alleging direct or indirect responsibility and failure to act against the purported scam.
Rejecting what he termed attempts to shift the blame entirely onto bureaucrats, Siram said government officials function under the authority of the political executive and should not be made scapegoats. “Corruption of this magnitude, especially in a nationally significant highway project, points to serious lapses in approval and oversight at the highest levels,” he alleged.
Stating that the highway project is under close central monitoring, Siram maintained that moral responsibility must be fixed on senior leaders when such alleged irregularities come to light. He added that resignations were essential to ensure a free, fair and impartial investigation.
The Congress also demanded a court-monitored independent probe, recovery of the allegedly misappropriated funds and stringent action against all beneficiaries and those involved, irrespective of their position, PTI said