Protests and Flames Mark Arunachal's 39th Statehood Day at Namsai Border Check Gate

OUR CORRESPONDENT

DIGBOI: As the 39th Statehood Day celebrations proceed across the hilly state of Arunachal Pradesh, protests, demonstrations, and fire flames close to the Assam-Arunachal border check gate on National Highway in Arunachal’s Namsai district marked the celebration of the significant day here today morning.

The protest, spearhead by the Lekang unit of All Moran Students’ Union (AMSU) with support from the public of Lekang Circle, demanded the fulfilment of their long-pending demand for Permanent Resident Certificates (PRC) for the Moran community residing in Arunachal’s Namsai district for several decades.

The protest, marked by a shutdown in the protest-affected areas of Mahadevpur Town, Mahadevpur Chariali, and Dirak Gate, also exhibited the growing discontent among the Moran people over the lack of official recognition of their residency rights in the state. The issue of PRC for non-Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribes (Non-APSTs), including the Moran community, has remained a contentious subject in the state.

The protest reflects the growing discontent among the Moran people over the lack of official recognition of their residency rights in the state. “We have inhabited the place even before Arunachal Pradesh attained its statehood but are denied the basic right of permanent residency. This ongoing neglect has created a sense of alienation and gross injustice,” shared one of the office bearers of AMSU Lekang Headquarter. “We are left with no options but to announce the boycott of the 39th Arunachal Pradesh Statehood Day, demanding the long-pending grant of PRC,” added the Moran leader. According to the agitators who shouted slogans against the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of the state, the Moran community is deprived of their fundamental rights and privileges that the other communities in the state avail. In spite of having deep-seated historical and cultural roots in the region, they have not been granted PRC till date though demands have been raised through both peaceful approaches and fierce agitations over a period of time.

It is pertinent to add here that the Pema Khandu-led BJP government in 2019, to sort the long-pending issue, had been desirous to grant PRC to six Non-APST communities of Namsai and Changlang district. However, violent protests against a proposal to grant PRC to six ‘non-indigenous’ communities residing in the state took a heavy toll after the indigenous people of the state were up in arms. At least three persons were killed, countless vehicles, shops, and other business establishments as well as the private residence of a senior minister were set ablaze, and many government offices, including at least one police station, were vandalised. Irate mobs even set ablaze the venue of the first-ever Itanagar International Film.

Plying of trains and buses to the twin capital cities of Itanagar and Naharlagun had remained suspended, while the government had to shut down internet and social media as a preventive measure. No newspapers could be published in the state for three days in a row.

Now, what remains to be seen in the days ahead is the stand and approach of the Arunachal Government which is expected to come up with a solution acceptable to both the deprived and privileged section of the community.

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