As the year 2020 begins, let us hope that this new year brings in positive changes for the people of Arunachal. 2019 ended on a bitter note as the government of India chose to ignore the concerns of people of the Northeast region in particular and Arunachal in general by passing the citizenship amendment bill (CAB), which has now become the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), after the president of India gave nod to it. Though the government of India offered an olive branch to the state by saying that the CAA will not be applicable in Arunachal, which has the inner line permit (ILP) system, it has not clarified on the status of thousands of Chakma and Hajong refugees settled in the state.
These refugees, who are originally from Bangladesh, will be entitled to Indian citizenship under the CAA. Hopefully, in the new year, we will have some clarity on this issue. The issue of the APPSCE imbroglio is also yet to be sorted out. The court battle is dragging the exam on, thereby frustrating the students. The aspiring candidates will be hoping that in 2020 the government comes out with a strong decision to streamline the APPSC. The panchayat and municipal elections are also due in the new year. Everyone should actively participate in the election process but avoid violence at any cost. On the development front, the people of the state will be hoping that under the leadership of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, the state government will give more emphasis on improving the condition of the roads across the state. The health and education sectors, too, need the attention of the government. Also, the opposition parties in the state need to be more vocal and raise issues that concern the people of the state.