Arunachal Congress urges Rahul Gandhi to raise Article 371(H), Siang dam, China border, OPS issues in Parliament

The Arunachal Pradesh Congress has urged Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to raise four key issues concerning the state in Parliament, alleging that the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state have failed to address them adequately.

The demands were outlined in a memorandum submitted by Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bosiram Siram to the party leadership during an All India Congress Committee (AICC) review meeting in New Delhi, the party said in a statement on Saturday, July 1.

Among its key demands, the state Congress called for an amendment to Article 371(H) of the Constitution to bring it on par with Article 371(A), which applies to Nagaland, and Article 371(G), applicable to Mizoram. The party argued that the existing provision does not sufficiently protect Arunachal Pradesh's land, customary laws and natural resources.

The Congress also sought stronger constitutional safeguards, similar to those provided under the Sixth Schedule, to strengthen tribal self-governance and safeguard the rights of indigenous communities.

Reiterating its opposition to the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), the party alleged that the mega dam planned in the seismically sensitive Siang region could cause large-scale ecological damage.

The memorandum claimed that the project could affect over two lakh people and submerge ancestral land and culturally significant sites, including Kekar Monying. It also argued that concerns over China's upstream activities should not override the principle of obtaining the free, prior and informed consent of local tribal communities.

The state Congress further expressed concern over Chinese activities along the international border, accusing the BJP of practising "selective nationalism" and demanding that the Centre release a White Paper on the border situation.

It also called for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), criticising the National Pension System (NPS) and alleging that it leaves government employees financially insecure after retirement.

Siram urged Rahul Gandhi to raise these issues forcefully in Parliament, asserting that Arunachal Pradesh should be viewed not merely as a resource-rich region but as the homeland of diverse indigenous communities.