Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan today addressed the Special Session of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly in Itanagar, calling upon legislators to uphold the highest traditions of democracy and work towards the development of the State and the nation.

On his arrival at the Assembly premises, the Vice-President paid floral tributes to the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour. He also visited the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Museum, which showcases the evolution and growth of the State Legislature and its legislative journey.

Addressing the Assembly, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said that Arunachal Pradesh has immense strategic importance, rich cultural heritage and abundant natural resources, and plays a vital role in safeguarding the nation’s borders. He noted that the security of the rest of the country is closely linked to the protection of the borders by the people of Arunachal Pradesh.

Emphasising India’s unity amid its diversity, the Vice-President said that the country is united by one Constitution, one vision of ‘Rashtra Pratham’ (Nation First) and one goal of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. Quoting national poet Subramania Bharati, he highlighted the unity of thought underlying India’s diverse languages and traditions.

Recalling India’s rich democratic heritage, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan described India as the ‘Mother of Democracy’ and urged legislators to live up to this legacy.

The Vice-President highlighted the growing focus on the development of the North-East, recalling the establishment of the Ministry of DoNER during the tenure of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the emphasis on the region under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Act East Policy. He congratulated the Government and people of Arunachal Pradesh for the State’s development achievements, including its emergence as the country’s leading producer of kiwi, expansion of road infrastructure, issuance of over one lakh Soil Health Cards and significant progress in education and per capita income.

Congratulating the State Legislature on completing its Golden Jubilee, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan appreciated initiatives such as making the Legislative Secretariat plastic-free and establishing the Assembly Library and Museum.

Urging legislators to place public service above electoral success, the Vice-President said that elections may be won through votes, but the respect and trust of people can only be earned through dedicated service. He called upon Members to make effective use of Question Hour and Zero Hour to raise issues concerning public policy and their constituencies.

As the Presiding Officer of the Rajya Sabha, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan emphasised the importance of dialogue, debate and discussion in legislative functioning. Reiterating his message that “debates, discussions, or even disruptions must always lead to a decision,” he said that healthy debate strengthens democracy and constructive cooperation advances the State and the nation.

The Vice-President said that there can be no Viksit Bharat without a Viksit Arunachal Pradesh, stressing that development must be inclusive and no tribal or marginalised community should be left behind. He also emphasised the need to balance environmental concerns with responsible utilisation of natural resources for the economic development and welfare of the people. Referring to Arunachal Pradesh’s significant hydropower potential, he said its appropriate utilisation could generate greater revenue and accelerate the State’s development.

Governor of Arunachal Pradesh Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik, Speaker of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly Shri Tesam Pongte, Chief Minister Shri Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Chowna Mein, Members of the Legislative Assembly, senior officials of the State Government and Legislative Secretariat were present on the occasion.

PR/ASM/VMJ