Congress to provide clean government: Apang 

NET News Network 

Itanagar, Oct16: “ Congress government has taken firm decision to provide clean, effective, transparent and responsive governance in the state”, said Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Gegong Apang here today. 

Addressing his first press conference after assuming CM office, Apang said his government would try to live up to the expectations of the people, who gave their mandate in favour of congress party. “ We will implement the promises made to the people in the election manifestos”, he said on behalf of the congress party’s rank and file and AICC, President, Sonia Gandhi expressed his profound thanks to the people for their mandate to rule the state under the congress regime. 

The CM said his government’s thrust area would be road connectivity, which connects all the remote administrations through improvement of major infrastructures as well as implementation of common minimum programs (CMP) of the United Progressive Alliance government headed by congress at center. He also finds out other important thrust areas, like exploitation of natural resources systematically so as to attain the status of economically independent state. However, he said discipline must be inculcated among the cross section of people, which should be supplemented by the sincerity and honesty while delivering services to the people. “ The welfare programme of the people would find priority in his government so that every ‘smiling face of Arunachalee’ play a model role. The land of rising should not become liability of other country. But then, it becomes a donor state. It should give donation to the weaker states of this great country”, Apang said while discarding the popular nickname of Arunachal Pradesh as being beggar state of India.  

Hydro power potentiality of the state would also be exploited and tapped for the larger interest of the country and the state, which shall sustain the economy of this Himalayan state, he said. The master plan for Itanagar, Pashigat and Tawang has already been prepared, which will take care of road, water supply and electricity, but then the newly created districts of the state would also be given priority so that they may be brought at par with other developed districts of the state, he added. 

When asked, will you support the demand of other NE states for increasing the number of ministry, he said I also supported the demand considering various ethnic community as they are major tribes, are required to be made equal representation in the ministry. Secondly, the state has got 16 districts, which required to be represented equally from all the districts in the government, it may one or two. “What I feel 15% is ok for center, but the state like Arunachal Pradesh needs suitable amendment in the constitution in regard to size of ministry”, he added.  

When asked what would be your criteria for choosing the team, he said I have submitted the proposal for selection of the council ministers to the high command as desired by the AICC, President, Sonia Gandhi, which would be shortly finalized after my reaching to New Delhi and it would be done as advised by the party chief.