Team News Riveting
A chief minister trekking 24 km to meet the people is something surreal in modern day politics. But the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu has turned it into a reality.
Climbing the inaccessible mountainous terrains and trekking about 11 hours, the 41-year-old Khandu finally reached Luguthang—tucked away unobtrusively under Mukto assembly constituency in Tawang district. It also happens to be the home assembly constituency of the chief minister.
The village is located at a height of 14,500 feet above sea level and not many politicians have taken up adventurous trekking. Interestingly, the chief minister also abandoned the heavy security escort and was accompanied by just one security officer and some villagers.
From a security point of view, the pocket is highly sensitive. It is close to the McMohan Line that bifurcates Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
With just 10 households and a population of 58 (as per the 2011 census), villagers in Luguthang are mainly engaged in yak rearing. Khandu spent two nights at the village, which is not accessible by roads, and trekked back on September 8.
On his return to the state capital, he tweeted: “Has a review meeting with Luguthang villagers to ensure that the benefits of every flagship programme reaches the last man standing in forward areas”.
Pema is the eldest son of former Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who died in a helicopter accident on 30 April 2011 on a constituency visit to Tawang.
He assumed the office of chief minister in July 2016 and represented the Bharatiya Janata Party.
