ITANAGAR, Feb 24: Chief Minister Pema Khandu has appealed to the people of the state for calm, and said he will be meeting with representatives of community-based organisations (CBO) on Monday to discuss the situation in the capital.
“Today I have talked to a few CBOs of different communities over phone and called for a meeting with them at 10 am to discuss about the present situation,” Khandu told reporters during a late night press conference here.
The CM said he has also called an all-party meeting to hold detailed discussions “regarding the recent situation and the PRC issue.”
“I cleared the government’s stand on 22 February that we are not taking the PRC matter forward and want to reassure that we will not take up the issue of issuing PRCs to non-APSTs in future,” Khandu said.
“Still a few incidents are taking place where young boys have lost their lives and were injured. I am deeply saddened for this, and once the situation is normalized, I will visit the families personally,” he said.
Reiterating that “the PRC issue is being ended,” the chief minister appealed to the people of the state to end the protests and rallies and cooperate with the government to maintain peace.
“In regards to the violence and damages caused during the protests, I have ordered a commissioner-level detailed inquiry to find the facts, so that the public may know the truth behind it,” he said.
He said the state government has announced ex gratia for the families of those who lost their lives during the protests.
“I also believe that there are some forces behind all the incidents. Arunachal Pradesh is a peaceful state, and especially Itanagar is very peaceful; but their might be the hand of a few people in the violent incidents that took place,” Khandu said.
He said it could be inferred that, as violent incidents took place on Sunday also, the government’s latest stand regarding the PRC issue was not reaching the masses.
“Though the number of security personnel has been increased, I believe that having less number of security personnel is good for a better society and future. They are here for our safety only, not for any untoward situation that might happen,” he said, and appealed to the people to maintain peace, so that normal life resumes in the capital.