AAPSU threatens stir over 'Offspring' issue

Itanagar: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU) has said that the State Government should table the long-pending 'Offspring' Bill in the Assembly session, failing which the union will go for democratic movement in the State.

Speaking to the reporters, AAPSU general secretary Tobom Dai said that the union members along with its federal units and the District Students Union (DSU) held a meeting regarding the issue and accordingly came up with a one-point resolution.

He said that the matter has been pending for a long time and the union has been pressing the State Government to table the Bill in the Assembly. However, according to the sources the State Government is hesitating to table the matter in the Assembly session.

Dai also said the matter does not concern the union alone but is in the greater interest of the entire people of the State. Therefore, the State Government should table the Offspring Bill on any day of the Budget session and accordingly pass it.

The ninth session of seventh Arunachal Pradesh State Legislative Assembly (APSLS) commenced on Friday.

"We hope that a positive response is provided by the State Government on the matter to us. If it fails to respond, the union will continue with the one-point resolution adopted in the meeting today at the union office," he added.

He also added, "It is like back-stabbing us by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, despite his assurance to table the matter in the Assembly session."

Meanwhile, AAPSU president Hawa Bagang claimed that it is sorry state affairs that the non-APST (Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe) has been residing in the State with ST certificate, thereby superseding the norms of ILP and protected State.

He also said that the Offspring Recommendation Draft which was framed along with the chairman of the issue, SJETA Minister Alo Libang, should be tabled in the ensuing State Assembly session.

"If the Bill is not passed, then it will send a clear message to us that the State Government is anti-Arunachal. Therefore, the matter should be resolved to avoid future problems," he said, adding that if the Bill is not passed, then it will affect the indigenous people in the long run.

Bagang further claimed that there are many officers in State civil service who are not indigenous. Likewise, there are many in the police department as well Forest department who obtained ST status illegally and are serving in various posts, he added.

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