Ita Nagar : The Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today said that Northeast is streaming fast into national life, now with 17 airports, 20 waterways, and deep digital penetration. The region’s organic and natural farming offers a model for other states, and its indigenous resources like bamboo, rubber, and silk present enormous market opportunities, lauding the state’s progress and its contributions to India’s unity and prosperity.
Addressing the Special Session of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly today, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar said, the Act East Policy,has elevated the Look East Policy to a functional and transformative level. He remarked, The Honourable Prime Minister took the vision of Look East to the next level, a more functional level that could affect ground realities and be transformative, and that was Act East policy.
Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar said, our political parties must understand that ultimately the interest of all converges in nation prospering and nationalism blossoming. We cannot, under any situation, keep any interest above our national interest. Nation is first, unity of the nation is first.
On India’s democratic ethos, the Vice-President expressed his concern about disruptions in legislative functioning, saying, We cannot afford this kind of spectacle in a country that is the mother of democracy, the largest democracy. How can we go against the spirit of the Constitution? How can we afford to walk out of our obligations? he said.
He also reminded of the importance of being “vocal for local”, adding, Be vocal for local—employment opportunities will be generated, foreign exchange will be saved, and entrepreneurship will blossom. We cannot afford to import items that are made in this country, from carpets to furniture, electronics, toys, kites, diyas, and candles.
Reflecting on governance, Shri Dhankhar said, Corruption has been neutralized by technology, ensuring transparency and accountability in governance. Thanks to transformative technology, there is now no human interface in transferring benefits; it is all digital, direct, and seamless.
The Vice-President also highlighted the significance of commemorating Constitution Day and Constitution Hatya Divas, saying, Celebrating Constitution Day reminds us of our pledge to ensure justice, equality, and fraternity for all; while remembering Constitution Hatya Divas ensures we remain vigilant against the dark periods of history, such as the Emergency.
He pointed out that Emergency was imposed in this country for 21 months. People who loved the nation, who loved democracy, and many of them freedom fighters, were put behind bars. No access to justice, no freedom rights for them, he said.
Concluding his address, Shri Dhankhar reiterated the importance of unity and nationalism, saying, we are one, we don’t have to be one because we know each other’s language, we are one because we belong to this great nation.
Lt Gen Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik, PVSM, UYSM, YSM (Retd.), Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Pema Khandu, Chief Minister Arunachal Pradeshand Shri TesamPongte, Speaker of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.
