Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president and former chief minister, Nabam Tuki, has called upon citizens of the state to actively participate in the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,’ led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
The Yatra is scheduled to commence from the Gumto Check Gate to Itanagar on Saturday.
Addressing a press conference at the Congress Bhawan here on Friday, Tuki underscored the importance of unity and urged the public, along with political parties affiliated with the “INDIA” alliance, to join the rally and the subsequent mass meeting at the Mallo Tarin Government Higher Secondary School ground in Itanagar.
In response to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) opposition to the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and their allegations of “Congress negatively impacting the state”, Tuki strongly defended his party’s contributions to the development of Arunachal Pradesh.
He asserted that the Congress played a pivotal role in the state’s formation, with its name bestowed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and statehood achieved under the leadership of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Highlighting numerous developmental projects initiated by Congress, Tuki pointed to hydro projects, the road from the foothills area to the Bhutan and Myanmar borders, railway stations, Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs), airports and the Trans Arunachal Highway sanctioned by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2008.
Taking a critical stance against the BJP, Tuki claimed that the party has only inaugurated projects sanctioned by the Congress.
Furthermore, he argued that the BJP has failed to fulfill promises made during the 2014 elections, such as the establishment of an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the state.
“The public is aware of the reality of what Congress has accomplished for the development of the state,” Tuki said, underscoring the disparity between Congress’ tangible developmental initiatives and the BJP’s unfulfilled assurances.
BJP opposes Yatra
Meanwhile, anticipating Rahul Gandhi’s impending visit to Itanagar, the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expressed its opposition to the yatra.
The BJP accused the Congress of neglecting and perpetuating injustice towards the social, economic, and infrastructural development of Arunachal over the decades.
State BJP Spokesperson, Dominik Tadar, contended that significant progress has only been witnessed in recent years under the BJP’s Double Engine Sarkar, both at the state and central levels. He dismisses the legacy of negligence during the Congress regime and attributes the progress to the BJP government.
Tadar went on to allege that the Congress Party’s flawed policies, corruption, and indifference contributed to militancy in the North East. He emphasized that it is only under the present government that peace has prevailed in the region.
The BJP spokesperson underscored the lack of development initiatives post the 1962 Indo-China War, quoting the then Defense Minister AK Anthony’s statement that “infrastructure development in border areas was not a priority for the Congress.”
Highlighting achievements under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government since 2014, Tadar pointed to the construction and operation of six ALGs, airports in Pasighat, Ziro, and Itanagar, and the establishment of highways connecting all district headquarters, particularly the recent Frontal Highway from Tawang to Vijaynagar.
“Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra is expected to enter Arunachal Pradesh from the Gumto check gate and conclude at Hollongi, traversing the four-lane highways constructed by the Double Engine government. The BJP urges Gandhi to explore rural areas where the current government has developed roads and highways, contrasting it with the alleged inaction of the Congress over six decades,” Tadar said.
Accusing the Congress of engaging in divisive politics, Tadar labeled Gandhi’s Bharat Nyay Yatra as “Anyay Yatra,” claiming that its purpose is to protect his family legacy.
“The BJP staunchly opposes Gandhi’s visit, as the people of several states have rejected this Yatra and urge him not to disrupt the peace and tranquility of Arunachal,” Tadar said.
Also read: Prof Pradip Lingfa to be sworn in as APPSC chairman on Jan 21
