Arunachal students stage mass protest against PRC grant to non APSTs

Guwahati, January 17, 2019:

Nyishi students of Arunachal Pradesh have conducted a mass rally today. The rally proceeded from Akashdeep in Itanagar to Tennis Court.

The Nyishi Ethnic Students of Arunachal (NESA) has expressed strong opposition to any move to grant Permanent Residential Certificate (PRCs) to non-Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe people in the state. Their agitation has continued for two months and they have accused the BJP government of disregarding the sentiment of indigenous Arunachal people.

The agitators have two demands. Firstly, to oppose the CM and DCM’s New Year’s commitment to provide PRC status to non-APSTs.

Secondly, if the CM and VCM are to do it anyway, they must apologize in front of Mass Media for this decision.

The hundreds strong crowd carried placards decrying the state government and also raised slogans against Chief Minister Pema Khandu. The issue has become heated ever since CM Khandu had announced that PRC would be given to non APSTs living permanently in Namsai.

The NESA alleged that the state government had “undermined the sentiments of the indigenous people and the Nyishi community” by proposing to grant PRCs to non-APST communities of Namsai and Lohit districts.