Social Activist Sol Dodum rejects Minister Mama Natung's talks offer

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: Social Activist Sol Dodum has turned down the call of Minister Mama Natung to discuss his representation submitted to the State Government, stating that he desires no talks but a written assurance that his demands will be fulfilled.

Earlier in the day, Natung had written a letter inviting Sol Dodum to his office to discuss as well as redress the demands. The meeting was supposed to be attended by the legislators of the East Kameng district and officers of the PHED.

Speaking to reporters, Dodum outright rejected the invitation of the Minster. Moreover, he questioned the latest response from the four legislators of the district on the issue. He said that his demand is not for any individual but for the entire people of the district.

He also said that there won't be a meeting with the Minister or any other legislators from the district on the matter unless a written assurance is made in the public domain.

Dodum even questioned the State Government on deploying PHED Chief Engineer (CE) Toko Jyoti to Seppa for ground verification regarding the water supply issue. He claimed that the verification is being made by the same department head, which can automatically lead to partiality.

"Therefore, I appeal to the CM to constitute an SIT team to bring out the facts in the matter. Likewise, if the State Government is ready to provide a written assurance that my demands will be fulfilled, then the sit-in dharna will be put to an end," he said.

Dodum is on the fourth day of a five-day sit-in dharna at IG Park near here, which is to end on Saturday. While he did not disclose his further course of action after the completion of the five days, he said that the issue will continue until his demands are fulfilled.

He also acknowledged the public of Seppa township for conducting a rally in the district headquarter in his support. He said that people from all walks of life today conducted a peaceful rally demanding immediate transfer of the incumbent district DC and potable water supply.

Earlier in the day, thousands of public came out to the road protesting against the non-potable water being supplied to the households as well as transfer of the DC. The crowd even broke down the entrance gate to the office of DC and protested in solidarity with Dodum.

Meanwhile, Capital DC Talo Potom informed that the Chief Minister Pema Khandu has directed the minister to initiate talks with Dodum so that the matter is being resolved. However, Dodum has turned down the invitation for talks.

He said the minister had called Dodum for the meeting at his secretariat office today. The minister also said that Dodum can meet him any other day to resolve the matter amicably.

"The call for the meeting is purely from the Government and not from Mama Natung, the representative of East Kameng district. Even in my personal capacity I have urged Dodum to accept the invitation," he said, adding that now it's upon Dodum and his team to accept or reject the invitation for talks.

Dodum has been appealing to the State Government for a permanent PHED Executive Engineer in the East Kameng district, replacing the present EE in-charge Bharat Sonam.

He also demanded the formation of an SIT to investigate the recent attack on him and his colleagues during a peaceful protest in Seppa on April 12. He is further demanding departmental action against the EE, transfer of Deputy Commissioner PA Polumatla and registration of a case to investigate corruption involved in the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) at Lai Moya, WTP at Macha and water supply project at Kuchi Nallah.

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