ITANAGAR, Jul 27: Former Home Minister and Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) working president Tanga Byaling on Monday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led state government, accusing it of evading accountability on issues relating to border security, healthcare, education and governance.
Addressing a press conference, Byaling challenged Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Home Minister Mama Natung to visit the Indo-Tibetan border along with media representatives to assess the ground situation regarding alleged Chinese incursions and encroachments.
"If the government is confident that there are no Chinese incursions or encroachments, let the Chief Minister and the Home Minister visit the border with the media and verify the ground reality," he said.
Byaling alleged that the government was downplaying concerns raised by border residents and criticised what he described as repeated attempts to shift focus to the 1962 Sino-Indian War instead of addressing the present border situation.
He claimed that activities by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) had become a matter of concern, particularly after 2020, and alleged that the government was avoiding a transparent discussion on the issue.
The former Home Minister also levelled allegations of corruption and administrative failures in the Health Department, claiming that despite significant public expenditure, district hospitals and health centres continue to face shortages of doctors, medicines, specialists and basic healthcare facilities.
Seeking greater transparency, he demanded an independent inquiry into the procurement of medicines and medical equipment and called for a review of recruitment processes in the Health Department. He alleged that qualified APST pharmacists, laboratory technicians and other healthcare professionals remained unemployed while questions persisted over the fairness of recruitment.
Byaling further urged the government to investigate reports that some pharmacies were allegedly being operated by unqualified or unlicensed persons, saying such practices pose a serious risk to public health.
Turning to the education sector, he alleged that many schools across the state were either non-functional or operating with inadequate teachers, poor infrastructure and insufficient learning facilities. He called for a comprehensive public audit of schools, teacher vacancies, infrastructure and the utilisation of education funds.
The Congress leader also questioned the government's policy of creating new districts, alleging that several administrative units had been established without adequate infrastructure, manpower or financial resources.
He urged the government to explain the administrative and financial rationale behind the creation of new districts and alleged that governance could not be replaced by political announcements alone.
Maintaining that the opposition would continue to raise issues relating to border security, healthcare, education and administrative transparency, Byaling said the people of Arunachal Pradesh deserved "truth, transparency and accountability."
The BJP-led state government has not immediately responded to the allegations made by the former Home Minister.