Itanagar to get new land to protest, old one goes to BJP

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday said the state government would provide a new designated land here for holding protests, in place of the current one that has been allotted to the ruling BJP for construction of its permanent office.

The Tennis Court inside the Indira Gandhi Park in the state capital is has been the designated area for staging protests and holding dharnas by organisations.

The new protest area would have facilities of toilet, water and electricity which the current land lacked, Khandu said.

The chief minister's statement came in the backdrop of reservations expressed by several bodies over allotment of the land near the Tennis Court to the BJP to build its permanent office.

Attending the foundation stone laying ceremony and bhumi pujan for the BJP office, Khandu said the government is not opposed to protests and the concerns raised by the organisations were genuine.

The foundation was laid by BJP General Secretary (Org) incharge of North East Ajay Jamwal in presence of state BJP president Tapir Gao, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and others.

The party office would be built using funds through contributions from well wishers and the party's own sources and he contributed Rs 20 lakh from his personal means for it.