On Gandhi Jayanti, Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu launched a GPS-enabled app that lets residents track garbage trucks in real time. Itanagar’s streets may never look the same again. There’s a certain symbolism in choosing Gandhi Jayanti to talk about cleanliness. October 2 has always carried that weight — the Mahatma’s legacy, Swachh Bharat, the … Read more
When the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh has to flee by helicopter from his own state’s district, something has gone deeply, seriously wrong. That is exactly what happened in Yingkiong on September 30, when protests over the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) turned violent — forcing Chief Minister Pema Khandu to cut short his … Read more
YINGKIONG, September 30, 2026: Protests against the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) intensified across Upper Siang district on Wednesday as Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu visited Yingkiong amid continuing opposition to the government’s proposed Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) process. The Chief Minister’s two-day visit to Siang and Upper Siang districts coincided with strikes, road … Read more
There is a project that is dividing Arunachal Pradesh right down the middle — and the government just made it clear it is not backing down. Arunachal Pradesh Minister Ojing Tasing came out swinging on Thursday in defence of the controversial Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, better known as SUMP, while simultaneously sending a stern warning … Read more
Amid road blockades and simmering anger, Arunachal’s Chief Minister personally travels to one of the state’s most tense flashpoints — and makes a promise that has people both listening and wondering. Pema Khandu did not send a minister. He went himself. On Wednesday, Arunachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister arrived in Siang and Upper Siang districts — … Read more
The Siang River can be both a lifeline and a time bomb — and Arunachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister wants people to understand the difference before it’s too late. Pema Khandu sat down with Community-Based Organisation (CBO) members, government officers and local officials at Yingkiong on September 30, and the conversation wasn’t about politics or projects. … Read more
The fate of one of the most ambitious — and most debated — infrastructure projects in Northeast India now rests on a single document. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said loud and clear on September 29 that the proposed Siang Upper Multi-Purpose Project, known as SUMP, will not move an inch forward unless the … Read more
The Chief Minister didn’t just attend a meeting in Boleng — he delivered a message that cuts right to the heart of governance in Arunachal’s tribal heartland. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu made a direct and pointed visit to Boleng on September 29, sitting down with officers and officials of the Siang district in … Read more
For years, patients from Arunachal Pradesh had no choice but to pack their bags, leave their mountains behind, and travel thousands of kilometres to cities like Delhi just to access life-saving medical care. That era just quietly changed. On September 28, the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) in Naharlagun scripted history … Read more
Pema Khandu says the government will not push the SUMP against the people’s will. Yet roads are blocked, four villagers were detained, and security is pouring in. Something doesn’t add up. The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh says he won’t use force. But try telling that to the villagers of Geku, who spent Monday blocking … Read more
