[ Karda Natam ]
DAPORIJO, Apr 5: “Any development activity will be given priority according to the immediate requirements of particular areas of the state,” Chief Minister Khandu said, addressing a BJP rally at the airfield ground here in Upper Subansiri district on Friday.
Discouraging money culture during the elections, the chief minister alleged that corruption was encouraged during the Congress regime, and that “it is being followed till today by some people with vested interests in the state.”
He said several candidates with criminal records have been given the chance to contest the MLA election in many districts. However, he said, “stern action will be initiated against some high-profile corrupt persons after the elections.”
Highlighting the developmental activities carried out during his tenure, Khandu cited the creation of the SSB, increasing the honorariums for ASHAs, gaon burahs and casual labourers, and increasing the old-age pension as some of the examples.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s five-time visits to Arunachal have really paved the way for the development of the state. Now all central ministers are frequently visiting the northeastern states to redress the grievances of the people, and for the development of the region,” he said.
The chief minister also promised to accord greater priority to the education and health sectors in the state.
Yachuli MLA Taba Tedir, state BJP vice president Tame Phassang and BJP MLA candidates Taniya Soki, Nyato Rigia, Nakap Nalo and Rode Bui also attended the rally.
‘Cong gifted corruption’
Khandu also visited Bordumsa in Changlang district on Friday.
Addressing the party’s rally there, the CM lashed out at the Congress, alleging that “deep-rooted” corruption was a “gift” of the grand old party, which had ruled the state for several decades.
Khandu also claimed that the situation had “changed” after the BJP came to power in the state.
“Our government is already on the job to weed out corruption. We will not spare anybody found indulging in unlawful activities,” he said.
The recent arrest of a businessman and two government officials allegedly involved in the Trans-Arunachal Highway compensation scam was a “clear example of our resolve against corruption,” Khandu said.
He said the northeastern region, and Arunachal Pradesh in particular, received due importance after the NDA government came to power at the Centre in 2014.
There were no airports in Arunachal and “it is the Modi government which gifted airports and advanced landing grounds to the state,” the chief minister said.
The greenfield airport in Hollongi, near Itanagar, has been sanctioned and Modi laid the foundation stone for the project in February, Khandu said.
The NDA government also sanctioned three sainik schools in the state and the first one, in Pasighat in East Siang district, is already operational, he said.
Khandu said that in order to provide a clean and transparent government, the BJP has fielded 24 new faces in the assembly polls this time.
He said the development in the state in the last five years have been “historic, especially in surface, road and rail communication sector.”
He added that only the BJP has the potential to correct the culture of “appeasement politics” and widespread corruption “that has been the legacy of the Congress government’s long tenure.”
Had there been correct and clear policies under the Congress rule, bringing development for the state’s 14 lakh population wasn’t a Herculean task, he said.
Khandu also informed that the government is trying to bring investments in the state through an industrial policy which can address the problem of unemployment among youths.
He, however, said only those investments would be accepted which do not compromise the state’s natural endowment. (With PTI input)
