Arunachal Pradesh reports economic growth amid political protests

During a special session of the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly, Chief Minister Pema Khandu reported significant economic and infrastructural growth over the last decade. He stated that the state's GSDP rose from approximately Rs 20,373 crore in 2016 to over Rs 50,651 crore, while the state budget increased by more than 238 per cent.

Khandu highlighted a major expansion in connectivity, noting that road construction increased from 300 km annually to 1,800 km. Key projects driving this transformation include the Sela Tunnel, Donyi Polo Airport, and the Trans Arunachal Highway. He credited the central government's leadership for these developments.

Concurrently, the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee protested being denied an appointment to meet Vice President C P Radhakrishnan during his state visit. The party claimed they were prevented from submitting a memorandum addressing six critical issues, including frontier security, constitutional safeguards, and opposition to mega dam projects. The Congress also called for the creation of a dedicated Arunachal Regiment to increase local recruitment in the armed forces.