
The Prime Minister8217;s proposed visit to Arunachal Pradesh, to inaugurate a bridge across the Lohit river, appears to be jinxed. Postponed twice earlier, a new date for the visit, April 8, has now been announced.
The 8220;formal dedication8221; of the bridge to the nation was first scheduled for January 10 and then February 19. On both occasions, the official reason for cancellation was given as 8220;preoccupations8221; that Manmohan Singh could not avoid.
However, the repeated postponements have not gone down well in the state on which China regularly lays claim to.
CM Gegong Apang too is dissatisfied over the issue, especially in the backdrop of China8217;s renewed claim over the state. And Apang has reasons to be upset. The PM is a member of the Rajya Sabha from Assam, and does visit his home state regularly.
The 510-metre bridge on the Lohit river that the PM is supposed to inaugurate is close to the district of Changlang where both ULFA and NSCNIM have been active for quite some time now.