ITANAGAR : The Congress in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led state government, accusing it of evading accountability on issues of border security, alleged corruption in the health sector, deteriorating education system and governance, while demanding greater transparency and public scrutiny.
Questioning the government’s stand on the India-China border situation, Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) working president Tanga Byaling, in a statement, alleged that Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Home Minister Mama Natung were downplaying concerns over alleged Chinese incursions and encroachments instead of addressing the ground realities faced by people living in border areas.
“If the state government is so confident that there are no Chinese incursions or encroachments, let the CM and the HM come to the Indo-Tibetan border along with a media team and verify the ground reality themselves,” he said, urging the government to stop making statements from the comfort of offices in Itanagar.
He also criticised the BJP government for repeatedly referring to the 1962 India-China war whenever the border issue is raised, saying the concern today is the present security situation, particularly developments after 2020.
“The people are asking questions about what is happening today. The issue is the present border reality and the developments after 2020,” he said, adding that border residents were aware of the situation and that “national security cannot be treated as a political public relations exercise”.
Byaling’s response came after Natung on Sunday dismissed allegations of Chinese encroachment into Indian territory in the Taksing sector of Upper Subansiri district, terming the claims “lies and social media rumours”.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations here, Natung said there has been no intrusion by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) into any part of the state.
“There has been no encroachment in Arunachal Pradesh by the Chinese. All these are just lies and social media rumours. Our jawans are protecting our border 24×7. No Chinese would dare encroach into Indian territory, and I can assure you that these are all rumours and nothing else,” the minister had said.
Byaling also levelled allegations of corruption and administrative failures in the health department, claiming that despite huge expenditure on medicines and medical equipment, many district hospitals and health centres continue to face shortages of doctors, specialists, medicines and basic facilities.
“The government must explain where the public money is going and why patients are not receiving the healthcare they deserve,” the former home minister said, demanding complete transparency in procurement of medicines and equipment and an independent investigation into alleged financial irregularities.
He also sought a statewide verification of pharmacies, alleging that some were being operated by unqualified or unlicensed persons, which, he said, posed a serious threat to public health.
The Congress leader further questioned recruitment in the health department, alleging irregularities in appointments while qualified Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) pharmacists, laboratory technicians and other healthcare professionals remained unemployed.
He demanded a comprehensive review of recruitment rules, selection procedures, merit lists and compliance with reservation norms.
Targeting the education department, Byaling alleged that several schools across the state were functioning without adequate teachers, infrastructure and basic facilities, while some existed only on paper.
“The government cannot claim development while the future of our children is being neglected,” he said, calling for a public audit of schools, teacher vacancies, infrastructure and utilisation of education funds.
Byaling said the government should stop responding to public concerns with ‘propaganda’ and instead provide clear answers on border security, healthcare, education and governance.
“The people of the state deserve truth, governance, transparency and accountability,” he said, adding that the Opposition would continue to raise these issues until the government took concrete action and ensured greater transparency. (Source: PTI)
