DOOM DOOMA, Jan 16 ? President APJ Abdul Kalam exhorted people to live in peace and harmony while inaugurating the Dihing-Patkai festival, 2003 at Lekhapani about 21 kilomater off Margherita today. President Kalam who arrived at Nadua Army Airport by a special Air Force plane yesterday afternoon to come to Lekhapani this morning and visited the Lalpaher and Longtong tribal villages near the venue and took stock of various ongoing development projects there.
The President also inaugurated the ?Siu-Ka-Pha harmony arch? erected near the venue site on National Highway No 153 from Lekhapani to Pangsau pass Arunachal Pradesh. He lauded the efforts of the great Ahom king Sui-Ka-Pha in assimilating and uniting the different ethnic groups to form the greater Assamese nationality. ?It shows that we can live together,? he added. Since his childhood the President said he had a dream to visit the basin of Brahmaputra while appreciating the scenic beauty he said of late its rich bio-diversity has been threatened. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi he said ?nature fulfils everyone?s need but not anyone?s greed. So we must protect it for our future generation.?
The President also laid emphasis on bamboo cultivation in Assam by seeing the stage and main pandel made of bamboos only. To drive home his point he said China rearned billions of rupees from bamboo production alone. On taming of the Brahmaputra President Kalam said by introducing the concept of networking of rivers the flood problem of Brahmaputra could be solved. ?It could also then produce electricity for whole of India,? he pointed out.
The inaugural festival was also attended by Governor of Assam Lt Gen Retd S K Sinha, Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, S Nemo, senior Minister & Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister?s special representative for the festival, and Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president, Paban Singh Ghatowar among others.
Earlier Minister of State (Independent) for Forest, Sri Pradyut Bordoloi who is also the chairman of the Dihing-Patkai, 2003 festival committee welcomed the President and other dignitaries.
Our staff reporter adds : The President, Dr Kalam while sharing his feelings on this tour to the state with school children here said, ?it was a pleasant surprise to find everyone young and old smiling at Lekhapani where Dehing Patkai Festival is being held.? Dr Kalam who set the tune of Dehing Patkai festival by inaugurating the ?Sammanoy? arc at Lekhapani named after great founder of Ahom Kingdom, Sukapha, said the smiles on tribal faces there reflected that they possessed a beautiful mind that breed creativity and knowledge.
?People smiling here is a great sign for the nation. When people smiles the nation too smiles and gets united,? the President said adding that North East is a wonderful place where every household is a cottage industry. According to the President the talented and creative people of North East just needed the vision to be on the fast track of development.