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A long journey to see the Prime Minister
| The crowd returned with hopes of timely implementation of package |
Warm welcome: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu presents a statuette of Buddha to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, J.J. Singh, and Minister of State for Railways J. Rathwa (left) look on during a public rally in Itanagar on Thursday. (Right) Dr. Singh with a child during his visit to Ramakrishna Mission Hospital in Itanagar.
Itanagar: “I have come here to see the Prime Minister. I have been seeing him only on television. For the last 20 years no Prime Minister had visited this capital city. Rajiv Gandhi was the last Prime Minister who came here,” said Tangag Taki who travelled 300 km from his hometown Panging in East Siang district on Thursday morning to hear Dr. Manmohan Singh.
He was keen on knowing what Dr. Singh had to say about the development of Arunachal Pradesh rather than just allaying fears over China’s claim over the State’s territory. “But we certainly want people of both countries to live in peace without any tension over border issues,” he said while awaiting the arrival of Dr. Singh at the meeting venue, Indira Gandhi Park.
A postgraduate from Gauhati University, Mr. Taki was 18 years old during the 1962 India-China war.
K. Riba of Basar, about 250 from here, echoed Mr. Taki’s sentiments. “I have no doubt that Arunachal Pradesh is very much part of India. If the residents know that they belong to India, they should have no fear even if China makes a claim. So I have come to hear the Prime Minister talk about the development of Arunachal Pradesh and not about border disputes.”
Y. Lotus and Tana Atun — youths from Daimukh, 25 km from the city, wanted the Prime Minister to say something about the relations between India and China. “There should be peace between India and China. A permanent solution to the border dispute should be found and fear removed from the minds of the people of Arunachal Pradesh,” they said.
Later, when reporters asked Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Prithviraj Chavan why Dr. Singh made no reference to the border dispute, he said, in the presence of Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, that the visit concerned development of Arunachal Pradesh, and not foreign affairs.
Patient wait
At the meeting venue, people, who had come from this city and far-flung areas and waited patiently for the arrival of the Prime Minister, cheered him with thunderous applause, even as dance troupes of various tribes showcased the rich heritage of the land of the rising sun.
The crowd applauded as Dr. Singh announced development projects to the tune of Rs. 10,000 crore. It returned home satisfied and nourishing hopes of timely implementation of the package.
Dr. Singh was accompanied by National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan, DONER Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, Minister of State for Railways Naranbhai J. Rathwa and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to go to Lohit and Anjaw districts, bordering China, on Friday before winding up his two-day visit.
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