The All Nyishi Students Union (ANSU) and All Papum Pare District Students Union (APPDSU) in a recent statement alleged that few individuals and groups are intimidating the joint high power committee (JHPC) to issue permanent residence certificate (PRC) to non-APSTs living in Lohit, Namsai and Longding district before 7th January 2019. These groups are reportedly resorting to tactics like blocking of national highway to press their demand. This is a very worrying development. Those demanding PRCs have every right to use democratic means to seek justice for themselves.
There are enough means and ways to fight for the justice. But intimidating tactics is against the spirit of democracy. Also the impositions of highway blockade will deteriorate the relation between non-APSTs and indigenous tribal’s. The tactics employed by them will make indigenous people more hostile and it will have huge bearing on the outcome of JHPC report. They should avoid using intimidation as a weapon to seek justice. This will only cause more damage to their movement. Let JHPC conduct proper study and seek the opinion of all the stakeholders so that a solution which is acceptable to everyone is worked out. The PRC to non-APSTs is a very emotive issue and should be handled with utmost sensitivity. State government in particularly police department should take strong action against those who are trying to intimidate members of JHPC and blocking the national highways.