Arunachal Pradesh CM goes on a motorcycle ride to promote tourism

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu rode a motorcycle from Yingkiong to Pasighat on Sunday to showcase the state’s natural beauty.

Published on: Oct 14, 2019, 21:49:20 IST

Hindustan Times, Guwahati | By Utpal Parashar

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It is not common for chief ministers to ditch their official vehicles and ride a motorcycle. But that’s what Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu did on Sunday.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu during his ride from Yingkiong, the headquarters of Upper Siang district, to Pasighat, the headquarters of East Siang district on Sunday. (HT PHOTO)

The 40-year-old rode a motorcycle for 122 km from Yingkiong, the headquarters of Upper Siang district, to Pasighat, the headquarters of East Siang district to push his state as a top tourist destination for biking and adventure sports.

Khandu began his ride from the circuit house in Yingkiong at 8:00 am and reached the airport at Pasighat two and half hours later.

“The attempt was towards promoting Arunachal as a dream destination for biking and adventure sports. The route offers best picturesque views of the Siang valley and villages of Adi tribes,” Khandu tweeted.

Arunachal Pradesh remains largely unexplored and the state government has been trying to boost tourism.

The chief minister also uploaded a video of his ride on his Twitter handle which shows him riding solo with his security detail following him in SUVs.

The young CM who returned to power earlier this year is a fitness enthusiast. And so is Union minister for sports Kiren Rijiju, who is a Lok Sabha MP from the state.

In November 2018, both Khandu and Rijiju had undertaken a 10 km cycle ride along with Bollywood actor and tourism brand ambassador for Arunachal Pradesh, Salman Khan, as part of the Mechuka Adventure Festival.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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