GUWAHATI:
Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu said that the concept of “pan-Arunachal” is the only mantra that can ensure overall development of the state and the welfare of its people.
“The trend of keeping the interest of self first, then the tribe you belong to and the state last must be reversed. We should keep the interest of the state first, tribe next and self, last. Only then we would grow as a state,” said the chief minister, addressing the valedictory function of the first-ever Arunachal Yuva Samanvay, at Jairampur in Changlang district.
Elaborating on the matter, Khandu said that as the state has so many tribes, who are culturally very different from each other, developmental planning should be based on the pan-Arunachal concept so that each tribe gets an equal share of it. “And the concept of ‘pan-Arunachal’ should begin from every individual, especially the youth,” the chief minister said.
Hailing the success of the five-day festival, which began on May 6 and was attended by youths from all the 26 tribes of the state, Khandu announced that the do will be an annual calendar event of the state government and requested youth affairs minister Mama Natung, present at the function, to submit a proposal in this regard immediately for the state cabinet to consider.
“This is the best platform for our youth, the generation who will be running the state tomorrow, to mingle with each other; know each other’s culture; earn and give respect; develop brotherhood and sow the seeds of pan-Arunachal concept. This will be a solid platform to take the state’s unity in diversity to the highest level,” he observed.
Khandu also suggested that each year, the event be organised at a different part of the state so that youth from other parts of the state too get the opportunity to explore a different part and tribe of their state.
“We are such a big state geographically. To top that, we have about 26 major tribes and more than 100 sub-tribes residing here. We do not know each other well. I bet many of you must have travelled to the eastern part of your own state for the first time,” he said.
Khandu also called upon the youth to shun drugs and help the government eradicate the menace “once and for all”.
Also present at the do were Lok Sabha MP Tapir Gao, sports and youth affairs minister Mama Natung, geology and mining minister Kamlung Mossang, legislators Laisam Simai, Somlung Mossang and Ojing Tasing, Sports Authority of Arunachal (SAA) chairman Byabang Taj, Information commissioner Gumjum Haider, 19 Assam Riffles commanding officer Col Mohit Verma, sports and youth affairs officials and district administration officials, among others.