‘Violence will not be tolerated’: Arunachal CM Pema Khandu defends detentions over Siang hydropower project protests

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has defended the detention of people protesting the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), saying those involved in disrupting law and order would be dealt with according to the law.

Speaking at a press conference on October 11, Khandu said many villagers in the Siang belt had been misinformed about the project. He clarified that the current stage involves only a pre-feasibility report (PFR), for which memorandums of understanding (MoUs) are not required.

The chief minister said similar procedures had been followed for other hydropower projects in Arunachal Pradesh, with MoUs not required for conducting pre-feasibility surveys. He added that MoUs would be pursued in accordance with established rules after the PFR stage.

Khandu said the state government was willing to hear the concerns of residents and various organisations, including the AbK and the All Siang Youth Union (ASU), and urged stakeholders to engage in dialogue to resolve their differences over the project.

However, he warned that violence would not be tolerated in the name of democracy or protests, adding that those responsible would face action under the law.

Emphasising that law and order provisions applied equally to everyone, regardless of their position, Khandu called for discussions to improve understanding of the project's pre-feasibility process and address public concerns.