ITANAGAR, Dec 13: Amid mounting criticism of the chief minister and his deputy’s recent announcements regarding granting of permanent resident certificates (PRC) non-APSTs in Namsai and Changlang districts, the state government on Thursday clarified that it will examine the issue of PRC “only after receiving the report from the joint high power committee (JHPC), which will be further taken to the cabinet for appropriate decision.”
It said the JHPC, headed by Environment & Forests Minister Nabam Rebia, is still in the process of conducting consultative meetings with all stakeholders in various locations of the state.
“It is once again reiterated that the JHPC headed by Rebia consists of student organizations, community-based organizations, community-based student organizations, senior ministers, member of parliament, the home commissioner, the joint home secretary, etc, as members,” government spokesman Bamang Felix said in a release on Thursday.
“In no given point of time will the government take a decision which will be against the interests of the indigenous people and the state, which has been amply reiterated by Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein in various forums and occasions,” Felix said.
He said the government would ensure that any decision would be arrived at only on the recommendation of the JHPC, “and PRCs, if so issued, will be done without compromising on any of the indigenous rights of the people of the state.”
