Bihar lawmakers dismayed over Arunachal Govt's late response to their study tour

Itanagar, May 23 (ANI): A team of Bihar lawmakers, which is on a study tour of North East states, has expressed its dismay over the Arunachal Pradesh Government's attitude in failing to inform them in advance about deferring their trip to the north eastern state.

The Bihar lawmakers' northeast study tour trip from May 15-25, covering Assam, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland was approved and coordinated by the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar himself, said Amarendra Pratap Singh, the Bihar Assembly Zilla Parishad and Panchayat committee chairman.

Singh, who is leading the Bihar lawmakers' study tour, revealed that Nitish Kumar was impressed by the behaviour of Arunchalees, led by State's Tourism Minister Pema Khandu, who attended the 11-day-long 32nd Kalachakra Initiation for World Peace at Bodh Gaya.

The participation Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and his colleagues during the concluding day on January 10 and his appeal for land there for the GoAP to build a dharamshala for Buddhist pilgrims from his state, prompted Nitish Kumar to announce the grant of land, on the spot, he said.

He said that Kumar had desired that the team visit few places in Arunachal and interact with the local people to remove the feeling of isolation and make them feel that Indians are with the Arunchaless in heart and soul.

But regrettably, the letter No.Z.P. and PRC-04/12-4/4/LA dated 27 April, 2012 was dispatched to all NE state assembly secretariats by the Bihar Assembly. Confirmation was received from all states except Arunachal Pradesh, which had responded vide its letter No. LA/PRO-4/2009 dated Naharlagun 7th May 2012 faxed to the Bihar assembly secretariat when the team was already in Gangtok.

The letter requested to defer the proposed tour as the assembly was busy in preparing for the visit of Ambassadors from European nations, but the Bihar lawmakers' team learnt from local dailies that the EU dignitaries visited the Arunachal state assembly between noon and 1 p.m. on May 20.

"We were informed about the letter by Arunachal assembly officials when we contacted them from Guwahati just before starting our journey for Itanagar. What is regrettable is that we were told that we had arrived here without any intimation," a dismayed Singh, who enjoys the status of a minister, said.

"We are thankful to Lok Sabha member Takam Sanjoy, who on learning about our arrival called us to his bungalow from the Buddhist temple, Itanagar, and extended hospitality. But our desire to visit Likabali could not materialise for there was no help forthcoming from the state government. As we are travelling in our own vehicles, we are leaving for Dimapur and Imphal on Wednesday morning where officials are waiting for our arrival," he added.

"Relation is not a one way traffic," Singh said before entering his car early on Wednesday morning.

The team was in Arunachal Pradesh from May 21 to 23 and is heading to Nagaland. (ANI)