Itanagar, May 17:
The Arunachal Scheduled Tribes (ST) Bachao Andolan Committee on Saturday rejected the written assurance issued by the Office of the Home Minister following the massive public protests witnessed during the second day of the statewide bandh, and also declined the invitation for talks, further intensifying the ongoing agitation over indigenous rights and related demands.
Addressing the media, Committee Chairman Sol Dodum said the organisation does not accept the assurance letter issued by the Home Minister’s office on May 15. He stated that the committee remains firm on its demands and would communicate any official response only through written correspondence.
Dodum also announced that the committee would not participate in the discussion proposed by the Home Minister’s office. However, he clarified that the organisation is willing to hold talks directly with the Chief Minister.
The two-day bandh held on May 14 and 15 witnessed large-scale participation from various sections of society, with supporters from different walks of life joining the protest in solidarity with the movement’s demands. The agitation primarily centres on the protection of indigenous rights, proper digitalisation and strengthening of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, and concerns regarding the alleged misuse of Scheduled Tribe status.
Besides the demand for proper digitalisation of the ILP system, the committee’s memorandum now also includes statewide scrutiny and re-verification or re-application of Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) certificates to detect fake APST certificates, illegal acquisition of tribal status, and alleged misuse of reservation benefits by illegal undocumented Tibetan, non-Indian Nepali, and illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.
Meanwhile, General Secretary Millo Ambo announced the launch of an online public petition campaign in support of the movement. He appealed to citizens, indigenous organisations, students, and the general public to actively participate and sign the petition, which will later be submitted to the state government as part of the committee’s democratic campaign.
Ambo stated that the petition aims to demonstrate widespread public support for the committee’s demands and to increase pressure on the government to take concrete action on the issues raised by the organisation.
In a major escalation of the agitation, the Arunachal Scheduled Tribes Bachao Andolan Committee also served a seven-day ultimatum to the state government to address its demands. The committee warned that failure to respond positively within the stipulated period would compel it to enforce a 72-hour statewide bandh across Arunachal Pradesh.
The latest announcement signals a further intensification of the movement, which has emerged as one of the most significant public protest campaigns in the state in recent times.
The committee has maintained that the movement is aimed at safeguarding the constitutional and indigenous rights of the tribal population of Arunachal Pradesh, while also demanding stricter implementation and rectification of existing protective mechanisms, including the ILP system.
