Arunachal Students Demand Proper Maintenance of Arunachal Bhavan in Mumbai

ITANAGAR: The Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union of Maharashtra (APSUM) on Friday staged a peaceful protest at the IG Park in Itanagar. The protest was held against the state government and the Arunachal Pradesh Industrial Development & Financial Corporation (APIDFC) for the poor administration and upkeep of the Arunachal Bhavan in Vashi, Mumbai.

Students shouted slogans and held placards demanding infrastructure improvements on the bhavan.

APSUM president Tapo Riang informed that the union has repeatedly submitted representations, along with documentary and pictorial evidence of the problems and issues of the bhavan in the last 10 months to the state government and also the APIDFC, “but no action has been initiated.”

The union demanded restoration of the bhavan, appointment of a deputy resident commissioner and an assistant resident commissioner at the bhavan, along with adequate supporting staff and furnishing of lease agreement.

“The lone Arunachal Bhavan in Mumbai, which caters to the accommodation of visitors from the state for medical treatment, especially cancer patients, is in shambles and is unfit for living, but our people are compelled to use it,” Riang said, adding: “It is a shame that a student union has to repeatedly pursue the government for its upkeep and functioning.”

“We had also filed an RTI to the APIDFC, seeking a copy of the MoU signed between the APIDFC and the City and Industrial Development Corporation, but they failed to produce the details,” he claimed.

He said that despite Chief Minister Pema Khandu and former chief minister Khaliko Pul personally visiting the bhavan, neither the functioning nor the condition of the bhavan has improved.

“It is unfortunate that we had to resort to a protest, seeking infrastructure improvement of the bhavan,” Riang said.

He further informed that the APSUM, with the support of the All India Arunachal Student Union Federation, would continue the democratic movement until its demands are fulfilled.

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