Arunachal shows China how democracy works - India - The Times of India
ITANAGAR: The people of Arunachal Pradesh have made it loud and clear to the world, China in particular, that the state is an integral part of India. And they did it in a very democratic way, by registering a 76-per cent turnout in Tuesday's Assembly elections - something that the Communist country can't even think of.
The Election Commission has successfully completed a gigantic task of conducting elections in a state that is inhabited by only 13 persons per sq km. With a population of 10,91,117, according to the 2001 census, Arunachal is the least populated state of the country. However, it's the largest state in the North-East in terms of territory with an area of 83,743 sq km.
"The final percentage of Tuesday's elections rose to 76% with reports from all remote polling stations arriving on Thursday. The percentage may slightly go up as there could be repoll in some booths," state chief electoral officer Yeshi Tsering. He has already informed the EC's office in New Delhi about the 34 polling stations that reported some irregularities.
"It's quite heartening to see our state's high voting percentage. I wish it crossed the 80-per cent mark after the repoll. Arunachalis are proud and patriotic Indians and we have nothing to do with China's claim. The impressive turnout only shows that democracy is vibrant in every nook and cranny of the state," said Joram Begi, director of the North East Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST).
Election was first held in Arunachal, the erstwhile North East Frontier Agency, at the panchayat level in 1969 with the enactment of the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA), Panchayat Raj Act 1967. This had laid the ground for the Assembly of the frontier state. Since then, Arunachal has never looked back.
It earned the status of a Union Territory in 1972 and became a full-fledged state in 1987, taking active part in India's electoral politics as the state's people elected a 60-member House and sent three MPs to Parliament, two in Lok Sabha and one Rajya Sabha.
As a matter of fact, the people of Arunachal are not at all worried about China's claim over the state as its own. "The common men are not at all bothered about the issue. What they are most interested in is development. But what makes many intellectuals in the state sad is the feeling that New Delhi is not responding to the Chinese claims in a firm way," Begi said.
The latest Chinese protest over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's October 3 visit to Arunachal to attend an election rally has not gone down well with many in the state. "Arunachal is an integral part of India and all Arunachalis are its citizens. The people of the state have realized their rights and are contributing to the sovereignty and integrity of the country," said Nabam Tuki, the state Congress president.
Chief minister Dorjee Khandu was the first to react to the Chinese stand on the PM's visit to the border state, saying China has no business to interfere into the internal affairs of Arunachal Pradesh. Khandu said, "Arunachal is an integral part of India. All Arunachalis are its citizen and are now in overwhelming number participating in the democratic process to elect their new representatives to the Assembly."
ITANAGAR: The people of Arunachal Pradesh have made it loud and clear to the world, China in particular, that the state is an integral part of India. And they did it in a very democratic way, by registering a 76-per cent turnout in Tuesday's Assembly elections - something that the Communist country can't even think of.
The Election Commission has successfully completed a gigantic task of conducting elections in a state that is inhabited by only 13 persons per sq km. With a population of 10,91,117, according to the 2001 census, Arunachal is the least populated state of the country. However, it's the largest state in the North-East in terms of territory with an area of 83,743 sq km.
"The final percentage of Tuesday's elections rose to 76% with reports from all remote polling stations arriving on Thursday. The percentage may slightly go up as there could be repoll in some booths," state chief electoral officer Yeshi Tsering. He has already informed the EC's office in New Delhi about the 34 polling stations that reported some irregularities.
"It's quite heartening to see our state's high voting percentage. I wish it crossed the 80-per cent mark after the repoll. Arunachalis are proud and patriotic Indians and we have nothing to do with China's claim. The impressive turnout only shows that democracy is vibrant in every nook and cranny of the state," said Joram Begi, director of the North East Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST).
Election was first held in Arunachal, the erstwhile North East Frontier Agency, at the panchayat level in 1969 with the enactment of the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA), Panchayat Raj Act 1967. This had laid the ground for the Assembly of the frontier state. Since then, Arunachal has never looked back.
It earned the status of a Union Territory in 1972 and became a full-fledged state in 1987, taking active part in India's electoral politics as the state's people elected a 60-member House and sent three MPs to Parliament, two in Lok Sabha and one Rajya Sabha.
As a matter of fact, the people of Arunachal are not at all worried about China's claim over the state as its own. "The common men are not at all bothered about the issue. What they are most interested in is development. But what makes many intellectuals in the state sad is the feeling that New Delhi is not responding to the Chinese claims in a firm way," Begi said.
The latest Chinese protest over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's October 3 visit to Arunachal to attend an election rally has not gone down well with many in the state. "Arunachal is an integral part of India and all Arunachalis are its citizens. The people of the state have realized their rights and are contributing to the sovereignty and integrity of the country," said Nabam Tuki, the state Congress president.
Chief minister Dorjee Khandu was the first to react to the Chinese stand on the PM's visit to the border state, saying China has no business to interfere into the internal affairs of Arunachal Pradesh. Khandu said, "Arunachal is an integral part of India. All Arunachalis are its citizen and are now in overwhelming number participating in the democratic process to elect their new representatives to the Assembly."
