BJP leader Pema Khandu took oath as the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh for the third consecutive term on Thursday. Khandu, the MLA of Mukto, was sworn in by Governor KT Parnaik in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda and several other leaders.
Tag: Pema Khandu
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Every penny sent to Northeast is properly utilised: Amit Shah
By Express News Service
GUWAHATI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday claimed the Narendra Modi government had taken some steps that ensured every penny sent to the states in the Northeast was properly utilised.
Shah took potshots at the Congress, stating that when it ruled these states, central funds were invariably siphoned off.
“But Modiji had taken some strict anti-corruption measures that ensured every penny that comes from the Centre to the Northeast is properly utilised,” Shah said after inaugurating some projects at a programme on the last day of his two-day visit to Arunachal.
“During the time of the Congress, one chief minister would lay the foundation of a project, another would announce it and possibly, the third would inaugurate it. For us, (Arunachal CM) Pema Khandu will lay the foundation and also inaugurate it,” the Home Minister said.
He said the people in the country could learn patriotism from the people of Arunachal and take it forward. He said he returned to Delhi energised every time he visited the state where people are greeted with “Jai Hind”.
On Sunday, he either inaugurated or laid the foundation of various projects worth over Rs 1,000 crore.
“In terms of infrastructure development, what the double engine of Modi and Khandu governments did in eight years, the Congress could not do in 50 years. The Northeast was strange to the entire country but Modiji brought it to the centre of it. When the PM visits a region more than 50 times in eight years, it automatically comes to focus,” Shah said.
“But the Congress cannot see the development that has taken place in Arunachal. If the eyes of somebody are closed, how can s/he see it?” the Home Minister quipped.
He said insurgency-related incidents dropped by 89% and highlighted how the Modi government solved various problems, one after the other, in the Northeast.
He said over 9,000 insurgents laid down weapons and joined the mainstream while the insurgency-related problems in Tripura and Assam’s Bodo areas and Karbi Anglong had been solved. He said talks were on with the Naga extremist groups.
“There was a time when the Northeast hit newspaper headlines for insurgency, bombs, bullets and deaths. Today, it is known for tourism, development, infrastructure, various languages, cultures and traditions,” Shah said.
According to him, the priorities of the Modi government include protecting and enriching the languages, cultures and traditions of the Northeast so that tourists from all over the world visit the region and solving all disputes and establishing peace in the region.
“The Assam-Arunachal boundary dispute has existed for 50 years. But Himanta (Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma) took the responsibility and Khandu responded positively. I assure you, the problem will be resolved soon. For how long will one state fight with another?” he said.
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Assam-Arunachal CM’s meet to form district-level committees to resolve border disputes
By PTI
GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Pema Khandu on Wednesday, and announced that the two Northeastern states will form district-level committees to resolve the longstanding border disputes in a time-bound manner.
This was the second chief ministerial-level meeting between the two states over the boundary issue, Sarma said in a series of tweets.
“We decided to form district-level committees in both the states to resolve the issue in a time-bound manner,” he said.
“The district committees will undertake joint surveys in the disputed areas to find tangible solutions to the long-pending issue based on historical perspective, ethnicity, contiguity, people’s will and administrative convenience of both the states,” he added.
The terms of reference of the committees were also finalised in the meeting, Sarma said.
Assam Border Area Development Minister Atul Bora, and chief secretaries and senior officials of both the states were present in the meeting.
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804.
1-km-long border and there are 1,200 points of dispute along it.
Arunachal Pradesh was a centrally-administered region initially after Independence and became a Union Territory later, before attaining full statehood in 1987.
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Arunachal youth wing asks CM to quit over corruption
By Express News Service
GUWAHATI: A youth organisation in BJP-ruled Arunachal Pradesh shut down state capital Itanagar on Thursday demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Pema Khandu after accusing him of indulging in corruption.
The All Nyishi Youth Association (ANYA) had called a 36-hour bandh from 5 am on Thursday. The police took around 100 “activists” under preventive detention. “There was no untoward incident,” Itanagar Capital Region DM Talo Potom said.
The authorities suspended mobile internet services for 48 hours to prevent mobilisation. Earlier, the authorities had declared the bandh as illegal and barred the entry of non-domicile persons” into the capital region without a valid reason or medical emergency till January 14.
Stating that there are several charges of corruption against Khandu, ANYA had on December 10 submitted a representation to the government demanding a clarification on the charges within 15 days. When the government did not respond, it demanded the CM’s resignation within seven days.
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400 zero enrolment schools closed in Arunachal Pradesh: CM Pema Khandu
The chief minister called upon community based organizations to visit their areas and recommend which schools may be shut down and which schools in a periphery can be clubbed into one.
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Arunachal Pradesh govt working to resolve boundary dispute with Assam: CM Pema Khandu
By PTI
ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said the state government is working to resolve the interstate boundary issue with Assam.
Khandu said he had already spoken to his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma who agreed to resolve all issues through bilateral talks sitting across the table.
“The state government had constituted a High Power Committee under the chairmanship of Home Minister Bamang Felix which has already conducted several rounds of consultative meetings with stakeholders on the matter,” the chief minister said at a function here on Thursday night.
The chief minister added that the Committee will hold a meeting with all MLAs and deputy commissioners of the districts sharing boundary with Assam on August 26.
Khandu said that the groundwork under process is based on the recommendations made by the one man Local Boundary Commission constituted by the Supreme Court.
Arunachal shares approximately 730 km boundary with Assam.
The function was organised to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for passing the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021, in the recent session of Parliament.
On the contentious issue of Chakma and Hajong refugees settled in the state, the chief minister reiterated that as per prevailing acts and laws no non-indigenous tribe of Arunachal Pradesh can permanently settle in the state.
“The Chakma and Hajong settlers are also human. They too are suffering a lot here. Therefore, we have to evolve a win-win solution for both and our indigenous tribes,” he said and urged the MPs, particularly Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju to pursue with the central leadership for a permanent solution.
Khandu further said that the matter related to property rights to girl child in the state needs consultancy and a proper debate involving all the stakeholders of the state.
“We all love our daughters and want to give them equal rights be it of education, employment or property. But this matter needs a proper debate and consultancy with regard to our indigenous identity and tribal rights specifically on property and inheritance rights,” Khandu said.
Speaking on polygamy the chief minister said that it needs to become obsolete in today’s world.
“The practice must have been socially accepted in the past due to various reasons but I do not think it is relevant today. Instead of helping the family, the practice of polygamy affects and destroys and lives of women of the family,” he said.
Lauding the State Commission for Women, Arunachal Pradesh Women’s Welfare Society and Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights for painstakingly compiling a draft bill on these subjects, Khandu assured that it would be studied in detail and extensive consultancy meetings would be held with all stakeholders to incorporate their views and suggestions before finalising a final draft.
While expressing gratitude to the Centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for passing the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021, in the recent session of Parliament, Khandu termed it fulfilment of a demand pending since decades.
The bill amended the constitutional list of Scheduled Tribes as recommended by the state government and added the indigenous nomenclatures of Monpa, Sajolang, Sartang, Tai Khamti, Mishmi-Kaman (Miju Mishmi), Idu (Mishmi), Taraon (Digaru Mishmi), Nocte, Tangsa, Tutsa and Wancho.
Khandu said the inclusion of the left-out indigenous tribes of the state in the constitutional list would not have been possible without the constant persuasion by the three MPs from the state, Kiren Rijiju, Tapir Gao and Nabam Rebia, and the concern of prime minister.
“On behalf of the newly included tribes and the people of Arunachal I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Modi, Union Tribal Affairs minister Arjun Munda and the MPs of the state and country, especially of BJP,” he said.
Khandu expressed optimism that it would go a long way to ensure the rights of every tribe in the state.
Felicitating Rijiju on his first visit to his home state as cabinet minister for Law and Justice, Khandu hailed the BJP government at the Centre for recognising Rijiju’s calibre and appointing a tribal from Arunachal Pradesh, as a cabinet minister of such an important portfolio.
“It is a proud moment for us as Rijiju is not only the first Arunachalee to become a cabinet minister but the first tribal in the country to hold the Law and Justice portfolio,” he said.
The chief minister requested Rijiju, who was also present in the function, to positively consider and fulfil the local demand for establishment of a permanent High Court for the state.
Khandu said that the high court building coming up at the present Itanagar Bench of Gauhati High Court site at Naharlagun is designed in a way to accommodate an independent High Court.
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Develop border areas to mitigate migration: Arunachal CM Pema Khandu to Centre
By PTI
ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu urged the Centre for comprehensive infrastructure and development schemes for the border areas to mitigate migration.
Khandu called on Union Minister for the Development of North Eastern Region G Kishan Reddy in New Delhi on Friday and suggested developing model villages with all basic amenities in the border areas so that it benefits the local populace and promotes tourism in the region.
In the meeting, he emphasised on the introduction of the Northeastern states in the national curriculum to create greater awareness and promote fraternity among all Indians, as per an official statement.
Khandu said the North Eastern Council should act as a think tank of the region for the creation of ideas and promoting overall development.
Khandu also called on Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Anurag Thakur and briefed him about the sports scenario of the state.
He informed the minister that Arunachal Pradesh has tremendous potential in sports activities.
“The youth in the state have taken sports as a career option which is in fact a positive sign,” Khandu said, underscoring inadequate infrastructure and facilities as bottlenecks in the sports sector of the state.
The chief minister urged Thakur to address the issue and release funds pending with the ministry under various heads.
Khandu later called on Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, and Petroleum Hardeep Singh Puri and placed a request for the financial requirements on the Urban Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan for 12 tourist circuits of the state.
He urged the minister to consider implementing a GIS-based integrated drainage master plan for the capital region, besides seeking relaxation for Arunachal Pradesh on eligibility under the AMRUT scheme.
Khandu also discussed pending petroleum exploration licenses and petroleum mining lease in Arunachal Pradesh and promotion and mining activities in the state.
Matters such as the establishment of a nursing college in Itanagar, support for the development of the state through PSUs and establishment of storage depots of petroleum products were also discussed in the meeting.
The Union ministers assured to lend all possible support to the state, the statement said.
Khandu was accompanied by Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar during the meetings, it added.
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Nothing concrete coming out of North East Council, rues Arunachal CM Pema Khandu
By PTI
ITANAGAR: Expressing his discontentment with the functioning of the North East Council (NEC), Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said “nothing concrete” was coming out of the agency.During a meeting with NEC Secretary K Moses Chalai on Friday, Khandu rued that the NEC has become just a funding agency of late, as per an official statement.
“We have been having deliberations after deliberations but nothing concrete is coming out from NEC. I believe it has bigger roles to play,” he said.
The NEC must reinvent itself as a regional think tank with a greater focus on key areas, he added.
Khandu said the NEC can be to Northeast what the NITI Ayog is to the country — a one-point solution centre.
“Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have the political will to transform the North East. It’s up to you (NEC) to come out with a roadmap,” he told Chalai.
Stressing that an empowered NEC must provide mentorship for planning and oversight in all priority sectors, Khandu urged the agency to play the role of an institutional anchor for the Northeast states, and help draw a blueprint of comprehensive development.
He said funding should not be the sole agenda of NEC.
“We are lucky to have a secretary who hails from the region. You must take a personal interest and empower NEC as an agency to reckon with for the development of the North East,” Khandu told the official who called on him.
He urged the secretary to suggest the way forward to all chief ministers of the region, who can then collectively work on it and impress upon the central government.
Explaining the diversity in demography and geography of Arunachal Pradesh, Khandu reminded Chalai of the complete dependence of the state on central grants and aids.
Due to complete denial of any international funding, Khandu said central government agencies, including NEC, need to give special preference to Arunachal Pradesh.
The chief minister suggested that the NEC authorities come out with a concrete plan on the new role of the agency that can be announced during the Golden Jubilee Plenary Session next year.
“Leading up to the NEC turning 50 in 2022, this is an opportune occasion to take a fresh look at its mandate and dwell upon a course of reform,” he added.
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Arunachal bars non-vaccinated people from entering state
By Express News Service
GUWAHATI: The surge in Covid cases has made Arunachal Pradesh decide on allowing the entry of only vaccinated people into the state.The decision was made following Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla’s videoconference with the chief secretaries of the states in the Northeast and the Union Territories on Wednesday.
“We are ensuring that anyone willing to visit the state has to be vaccinated,” Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar said.
Till Wednesday, Arunachal recorded 38,283 Covid cases, including 184 deaths. Altogether 36,736 people have recovered.
The state, which has vaccinated 68% of its population, requested the Central government for an additional three lakh vaccine doses.
Kumar said the state adopted a three-pronged strategy – extensive tracking and testing, enforcement of Covid appropriate behaviour, and vaccination – to check the virus spread. He said health infrastructure is being improved in the state.
The state’s vaccination drive has been affected to some extent in rural areas by rumours that people will become impotent or die in two years’ time following vaccination.
To promote vaccination, officials at the Yazali circle in the state’s Lower Subansiri district had to announce that people aged above 45 years would be offered 20 kg of rice for free following vaccination.
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4 political parties lodge FIR against Arunachal CM Khandu, Rijiju for ‘ceding’ Kimin town to Assam
By Express News Service
GUWAHATI: The issue involving the alleged attempt to “cede” Arunachal Pradesh town Kimin to Assam is getting murkier as four opposition parties in the Himalayan state have now lodged an FIR against Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju.Allegedly, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) had covered up “Kimin” and “Arunachal” on signboards and foundation stones with white paste when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Kimin on June 17 to inaugurate 12 strategic roads built by the BRO.
In the FIR lodged jointly with Kimin police station, People’s Party of Arunachal, Janata Dal (United), Janata Dal (Secular) and Congress alleged Khandu and Rijiju had connived with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to cede Kimin to Assam and consented by the defence ministry in violation of the Arunachal Pradesh Statehood Act, 1987.
Alleging that Kimin, which is under the revenue jurisdiction of Arunachal’s Papum Pare district, was misrepresented, they charged Khandu and Rijiju with grossly abusing their official authority and power, undermining the interest and the integrity of the state and its people.
Further, they accused the duo of compromising Arunachal’s territorial status by attempting to distort the Assam-Arunachal boundary dispute. Khandu and Rijiju, as well as the Assam CM, were with the Defence Minister on that day.
After e-dedicating the roads, Singh had tweeted about attending the programme in the “North East” and shared a statement of his ministry that suggested the event was held in the Lakhimpur district of Assam.
Groups and organisations in Arunachal said the Defence Minister was misguided by the BRO on the venue of the event. The controversy has refused to die down despite an apology tendered by the BRO.
“The error was unintentional. The BRO never intended to hurt the sentiments of loving brothers and sisters of Arunachal Pradesh.,” BRO Additional Director General (East) PKH Singh had said recently.
Arunachal and Assam have been locked in a bitter border row for decades together.