ITANAGAR, Nov 29: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) while referring to the State BJP list for Zilla Parishad Member ticket with non-indigenous names for ensuing Panchayat election 2020 has condemned it in the strongest terms.
Appealing political parties not to issue party tickets to non-APSTs, the Union has demanded the immediate withdrawal of BJP party tickets given to two non-indigenous ZPM candidates in Changlang District. 
"The Union is serving two-days ultimatum for withdrawal of BJP party ticket. If it is not met, it shall carry out rigorous democratic movement across the State; with first phase in all concern districts and second phase in the entire State. The AAPSU is directing all District Students’ Union and other branch students’ organisation to gear up and prepare for democratic movement across the district," said president Hawa Bagang in a statement Sunday evening.
Asserting that the Union has been apprising the Government on the matter since long for non-inclusion of non-indigenous in the electoral politics in local bodies and also deletion of voting rights of refugees in Arunachal Pradesh, it said that the State government has turned a deaf ear to the consistent representation of the Union in the larger interest of the indigenous people.
To worsen the situation, it is uncalled for that the ruling BJP government is playing with the sentiments of the people by issuing party ticket to non-indigenous person which is a breach of the rights of the indigenous people in the State, Bagang said.
Recalling the vision of the architect of local self-government in Arunachal Pradesh, Daying Ering and his recommendations of 1965 of local self-governance or conversion of the village council into the mainstream of Indian Political system, the Union said there is great need to uphold his dream and spirit in which the Panchayat system came into being. 
The 83rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2000 had been remarkable for Arunachal Pradesh; as the Act passed by the Parliament of India and which came with retrospective effect from the April 24, 1993, contained that nothing in Article 243D relating to reservation of seats for scheduled caste shall apply to the State of Arunachal Pradesh as it is cent per-cent tribal State.  Thus, subsequently, the Arunachal  Pradesh Panchayati Raj Bill, 1997 was duly passed by the Arunachal Pradesh State Legislative Assembly received the assent of the President of India on 13 April 2001(Act no.5 of 2001). 
The temporary settlers and refugees in the State have been settled with specific previlege, with no equal sharing of rights with indigenous people. 
Moreover, even the Arunachal Pradesh Land Settlement Act, 2000 describe; residents mean an indigenous person ordinarily residing in a village or area; Therefore, there is no space for the participation of non-indigenous in local body elections, the AAPSU statement read.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
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