Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Jan 17: The opposition to the state government’s proposal to grant permanent resident certificates (PRC) to non-APST communities residing in Namsai and Lohit districts and in Vijaynagar area of Changlang district continued on Thursday with hundreds taking to the streets in Itanagar to express objection to the government’s purported move.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu and his deputy Chowna Mein had reportedly announced to issue PRCs to non-APSTs living in Lekang and Vijaynagar areas during their tours to those areas in the fag end of last year. Both the CM and the DCM have been facing flak from several quarters ever since.
Hundreds of students, besides youths and members of civil society groups, under the banner of the Nyishi Ethnic Students of Arunachal (NESA) took out the protest rally from Akashdeep to the IG Park tennis court here.
Accusing the government of undermining the sentiments of the indigenous people of the state, the NESA demanded that the CM and the DCM immediately withdraw their statements.
The NESA also demanded a public apology from the two “for hurting the sentiments of the indigenous people of Arunachal.”
It said it would stage a hunger strike “or other means of democratic movements” if the CM and the DCM fail to meet its demands.
Around 21 different organizations participated in the rally.
