The Arunachal Times - Archives

State witnesses hectic electioneering

Gandhi duo to address rallies

Ranjit Sinha

ITANAGAR, Oct 4: As the D Day in the state is approaching nearer, the political parties are agog with hectic electioneering to woo the voters. Apart from time tested door to door campaigns, rallies are being organized with star campaigners. Unlike other time, this time electioneering is not as peaceful. Many places have witnessed violent scuffle and unrest forcing the administration to enforce prohibitionary measures.

Following the release of Congress manifesto by veteran Congress leader and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sept 30, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on his second visit to the state blew the development tune at Pasighat rally yesterday and stressed on complete implementation of the PM package by 2013.

The Congress party has already opened its account with three elected uncontested including Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu. Party’s star campaigner and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi will address election rallies at Yachuli and Itanagar on Oct 6, while AICC chief and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will do so in Daporijo and Aalo on Oct 8 next to woo the voters.

Other national parties BJP and NCP and Trinamool Congress are also not lagging behind.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi had released the BJP manifesto and addressed a public rally at Naharlagun. This was followed by the visit of cine-star turned politician Shatrughan Sinha and BJP president Rajnath Singh. Sinha had addressed two rallies at Itanagar and Naharlagun on Sept 30, while Rajnath Singh made an effort to lure the people, especially aam admi yesterday.

NCP, an ally of the UPA Govt is putting all efforts to win maximum seats. Party’s general secretary and North East incharge Purna A Sangma is already in state and reportedly on a whirlwind election campaigning in various parts of the state.

Union Minister of State for Rural Development Agatha Sangma has also landed in state and joined the NCP bandwagon to divulge its policy and programmes for the people of the strategically important frontier state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Trinamool Congress, first timer in the election fray in the state is happy lot with sizeable former Congress leaders as its candidates for the Assembly election. The party has fielded candidates for 26 seats.

Announcing a tentative programme for the visit of party’s who’s who today, All India Trinamool Congress state unit said that Union Minister of State for Shipping Mukul Roy, Union Minister of State for Urban Development Saugath Roy, MPs Soumen Mitra, Sudip Bandopadhaya and AITC young wing general secretary Sabyasachi Dutta will address public meeting at Chandranagar and Akash Deep on Oct 5 last. Saugath Roy is also expected to address public rally at Kimin and Banderdewa on Oct 6, while Mukul Roy will address public rally at Nirjuli, Naharlagun and Itanagar the same day.

Janata Dal (United) fielded candidates in three seats, has been campaigning at various parts of the state, while the People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) with its 11 candidates has been organizing rallies and sectoral meetings at various places to woo the voters.

NYC woo youths

Meanwhile, addressing the media persons at its state party office here today NYC national working president Satish Jaggi claimed that the NCP has been gaining the support of the youth of the state and a sizeable number of youths from various political parties have joined its party fold.

Accusing the Centre for not taking any welfare measure for the youths of the state, Jaggi alleged that “there is no policy, no employment avenue for the large chunk of educated unemployed”. The NYC leader assured to formulate policies for more employment opportunities if given chance to serve the people. The party will capture more than 20 seats, Jaggi claimed.

Responding to queries of the media Jaggi said that no party can form the Govt in the state without the support of the NCP. The NYC leader said that NCP does not believe in money politics.

The single-phased elections will be held for total 435 State Assembly seats– 57 (Arunachal Pradesh), 288 (Maharashtra) and 90 (Haryana) on October 13.

Art of Living distributes relief to Nyigam fire victims

BASAR, Oct 04: The Art of Living Arunachal Pradesh on Friday distributed relief to the victims of the recent fire tragedy in Nyigam Village near Basar.

At a function organised in the village by the local administration on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, the Art of Living, in association with its sister organization International Association for Human Values (IAHV), distributed school kits comprising a school bag, a pair of pens and half a dozen notebooks to all the school-going childrenof the devastated village.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Basar Ameya Abhayankar kicked off the distribution by handing over the first few kits to the students.

Local volunteers of the Art of Living handled the distribution to ensure that all affected students received the kit and restart their studies at the earliest. Many parents received the kits on behalf of their wards. Local volunteers have also made arrangements to hand over the kits to a few students who couldn’t collect the same on Friday.

The Art of Living volunteers also handed over clothes collected through a drive in Itanagar to the victims. The Art of Living has also started its trauma relief workshops to help the victims over the trauma of the tragedy. The first workshop with over 40 participants has already been completed and more such camps will be held in the coming days.

Abhayankar hoped the NGOs will continue to contribute in future relief efforts. Toi Basar, Anchal Samiti Member (ASM) of Nyigam, expressed the hope that the Art of Living will come forward to support the village further in rehabilitation.

Speaking at the gathering, Rajaque Rahman, representative of the Art of Living and IAHV, urged the villagers to make use of the trauma relief programmes and turn the tragedy into an opportunity for building a happy and healthy village. He added the Art of Living would explore all possible ways to aid the village in its long-term rehabilitation.

Several other organizations also handed over relief materials to the local relief committee set up by Basar administration under the leadership of the ADC on the occasion.

Reports on election preparedness from the districts

Anini, Oct 4: The District Election office held a meeting with the Micro-Observers here today, which was presided over by Central Election Observer, MVS Rami Reddey.

DEO, Tayor Jempen briefed about the importance, power and functions of Micro Observers. He said Micro Observers would work directly under the control and supervision of General Observer appointed by Election Commission of India.

He said that the primary role is to ensure error free elections with an objective to conduct the poll in peaceful and fair manner.

The ECI Observer, Rami Reddy said that since last two years Micro Observers have been pressed into service by Election Commission of India to ensure flawless conduct of elections.

Meanwhile, political parties have geared up campaigning in 41 ST Anini LAC and scenario is peaceful. Both the nominees along with their supporters are reaching the people through door to door campaign and bike rallies in this landlocked district of Arunachal Pradesh.

The Election Observer is closely monitoring all the election processes and attending all the election related meetings and trainings.

Changlang: The commissioning of 66 Electronic Voting Machine to be supplied to 50-Miao Assembly Constituency has been completed with the help of technical persons from ECIL today. The election agents of both the contesting parties were present during the process of commissioning of the EVMs.

Changlang Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Dr S B Deepak Kumar, IAS, Observer, 52-Changlang South and 53-Changlang North Assembly constituencies Md. Mohsin, IAS and ADC Miao T Mara also witnessed the commissioning of EVMs.

The commissioning of 66 numbers of Electronic Voting Machine to be used in 52-Changlang (North) ST Assembly Constituency was completed the previous day.

The total numbers of 354 EVMs will be used in 177 Polling stations in Changlang district during the forthcoming Assembly Election.

Meanwhile, the 2nd day of Phase-II election training for coming Assembly Election 2009 was also completed successfully in a separate function.

RCH camps

ITANAGAR: District Health Society, Kurung Kumey District conducted reproductive and Child Health (RCH) camps at Yapak, Rengchi, Chomi and Charli from September 23- October 01 last.

Doctors, nurses and Paramedical staff of District Hospital, Koloriang along with ASHAs, AWWs, GPMs and ASMs attended the camps.

Altogether, 408 patients were benefitted from the camps.

Dr Dinesh Bori passes away

PASIGHAT: Senior Medical officer Dr. Dinesh Bori, 47, passed away yesterday. He is survived by wife and two children. He was suffering from diabetes (Melitus) and had undergone Kidney transplantation in 2007 at Delhi.

A graduate from Assam Medical College he served as Medical Officer at Telam, Sille, Changlang and Ruksin PHCs and later, he was posted at Guwahati DRC office.

He was awarded with Silver medal by the state government for his outstanding service to mankind.

People from different part of the district thronged his native place Sille, East Siang District to pay homage.

Meanwhile, the East Siang District Doctors’ Association condole the premature death of Dr. Bori.

Nepali Sanskriti Parishad formed

H.K. Roy

PASIGHAT: Nepali Sanskriti Parishad, Pasighat branch has been constituted today in order to preserve, promote and propagate the rich cultural heritage of Nepalese community.

The Parishad will function under the aegis of the Purvottar Nepali Sanskriti Parishad, informed President Er. Arun Kumar Rana and General Secretary Chandra Thapa.

Speaking on the occasion as Chief Guest Dr. Shiv Acharya at Bakin Pertin School, Pasighat, He said that the trend of westernization in the name of modernization being adopted by the youngsters at the cost of ones own culture is a great threat to the community. He urged upon the Nepalese community to embrace the positive aspects of modernization without sacrificing own rich cultural heritage and ethic.

Let not Demagogues but Democracy triumph

Madam,

For ages the Democracy has been plagued with the presence of the Demagogues who thrived on the ignorance, political apathy and indifference of the common people towards the political process. The scholars and the political scientists who have been critical of the Democracy were not because of the ideals and values but mainly because of the concomitants and collateral maladies that accompany the political process. Indeed, the challenges to the Democracy are widespread and all pervading. But inter alia the demagogues have always been and are great liability to the Democracy owing to their insidious and pernicious role eating into the very vitals of Democratic institutions. It would be worth mentioning here what J S Mill had once commented that Democracy is suitable only for the civilized people of character and virtue.

In the contemporary world no serious study is required to substantiate or testify the presence of demagogues afflicting the democratic institutions. Arunachal Pradesh is no exception to this ubiquitous malady. A cursory glance and observation of the present political functionaries lead us to the unfailing conclusion that there is no dearth of demagogue in this young and nascent state too.

Therefore, instead of wasting our precious moments whatsoever, let every individual especially the educated citizens and intelligentsias without being cynical and indifferent to the present situations rise to the occasion by responding to the conscience and reason thereby rid this young and beautiful state to the populist leaders of strong and vibrant Democracy. Let every citizen perceive the intrinsic worth and significance of this franchise and exercise his legitimate right in the greater interest of the society irrespective of his or her party affiliation. It is the time to ponder and behave ourselves for concerted action to break away from the past experiences of political blunder and ignorance.

Yours,

Danggen Dameng

Lecturer, Don Bosco College, Itanagar.

Allegation baseless

Madam,

This is apropos the news item published in your esteemed daily on Oct 3 last under the headline “Election speech flayed”. We, being the genuine youths of the Hong village strongly oppose the baseless and politically motivated allegations leveled against TMC candidate Nani Ribia by Hong Youth Federation Capital Complex (HYFCC). In fact we too took part in the said meeting, not heard any such provocative speech made by former MLA Ribia.

We strongly condemn the allegations and appeal one and all not drag the name of entire people of Hong village which may create confusion and bring bad name, especially to the unemployed youth during election time.

We also appeal the Hong people residing in the Capital Complex not to be misguided by unscrupulous persons.

Yours,

Tapi Om, Bullo Tagia,

Tilling Tamang,

Hibu Duri, Tapi Tassang,

Tapi Phai, Kago Obing,

and Tapi Chobin

We need to show political maturity

Madam,

As a member of the society, I am left with no option but to post a comment on the scene of political campaigning in Arunachal Pradesh for the ensuing assembly election.

Many an incidents have taken place in some places involving party workers in the process and lot of personal as well as public properties are being damaged during such mayhems. These are all to show a sort of loyalty to the contestants. But, what about the loyalty to their own society that virtually begets them all? For whose sake they resort to violence. All parties have the right to campaigning. All candidates have equal right to seek votes. Blocking and barring campaigning amounts to serious violation of the EC directives.

So, we need to show our political maturity today and only today by way of decent and responsive campaigning hurting none and then winning the election with high head and stature. Election day comes and goes every 5 years, but the scars of injuries are stamped forever and ever reminding every single bad moments. We are mature enough to understand the results of peaceful political processes.

Arise Arunachal, Awake Arunachal till the peace in the land of the Rising Sun is achieved!

Yours,

Kada Tabu

Bhalukpong, West Kameng, (A.P)