PM to inaugurate Congress Bhawan

Itanagar, Jan 15: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to pay a two-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh by this month's end.

Official sources said today that Dr Singh will arrive here on January 31 to inaugurate the state Congress headquarters, Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan and address a public meeting. He will inaugurate a bridge across river Lohit near Parasuram Kund in Lohit district the next day before his departure to Delhi. Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu had called on the Prime Minister in Delhi on January 9 and invited him to the state. His visit had been postponed on a few occasions earlier.

Observers have here attached significance to the announcement of Dr Singh's visit to the eastern-most border state while he is touring China.

Both China and India are currently engaged in negotiations through their respective special representatives to resolve border disputes, including in Arunachal Pradesh.

UNI