A political storm has erupted in Arunachal Pradesh ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state capital, with senior Congress leader Takam Sanjoy accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of turning an official programme into a party-centric spectacle. Sanjoy, a former Member of Parliament from Arunachal, alleged that the BJP has misused government machinery to project the Prime Minister’s Itanagar programme as a political rally, undermining the neutrality expected of official visits. Addressing reporters on Sunday evening, Sanjoy said the city has been draped not in the national flag, but in party colours. “Instead of welcoming the Prime Minister with the tricolour, Itanagar is lined with BJP flags. This is not just unfortunate; it is a murder of democracy. No government in the history of Arunachal Pradesh has ever attempted such a mischievous adventure,” he stated.
The Congress leader argued that the practice of mixing party propaganda with government functions sets a dangerous precedent. “Official programmes should remain above politics. When the Prime Minister comes in his official capacity, the occasion belongs to the people of Arunachal, not to a political party,” he added. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to launch and inaugurate projects worth over ₹5,100 crore during his visit. These include two major hydropower ventures with an investment of more than ₹3,700 crore, aimed at boosting the state’s hydroelectric generation capacity.
The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for a modern convention centre in Tawang, envisioned as a hub for international conferences and cultural festivals. Additional initiatives include new housing facilities for working women, healthcare infrastructure upgrades, and improved road connectivity, with a combined outlay of about ₹1,290 crore.
