ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Dec 3: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) has demanded imposition of a complete ban on non-APST participation in all future Panchayat and Municipal elections in the state.
The apex students union of the state today submitted a five-point representation in this regard to the state government during a meeting convened by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, joined by Panchayat Minister Bamang Felix, State BJP President Biyuram Waghe and BJP General Secretary Zingnu Namchoom here at the Civil Secretariat. 
Addressing a press conference later in the day at the Arunachal Press Club, AAPSU General Secretary Tobom Dai while referring to the representation said that inclusion and participation of non-indigenous populace in local body and municipal elections will create serious issues in the state and undermine the rights of indigenous people in the long run. “Therefore, the union has demanded the state government to impose a complete ban on non-APST participation in Panchayat and Municipal elections,” Dai said, informing that the state government has assured to extend its support to the demands placed by the union.
“State government has also categorically stated that there are many ‘defects’ in the state Panchayati Raj election manual which are creating problems for the indigenous people,” he added.
AAPSU President Hawa Bagang opined the state government should insert a clause for compulsory possession of Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC) to contest in local body elections. “Inclusion of PRC and ST should be made mandatory in the checklist in FORM IV for contesting local body elections.           
This should be modified for the interest of the indigenous people,” he said, informing that the state government has assured to look into the demand.
The union has also demanded a complete ban on the issue of Domicile Certificates, which according to it are being used in local body elections and for other purposes. “The government has agreed to ban the issue of Domicile Certificate as well as Temporary Residence Certificate (TRC) which are being largely used by the non-indigenous people, curtailing the indigenous rights,” AAPSU President stated. While requesting the Returning Officers (ROs) to reject the nominations without proper documents for contesting in any election in the state, Bagang questioned the integrity of the State Election Commission for not sending a proper checklist of eligibility norms for local body elections.
AAPSU further made it clear it will not accept any inclusion and participation of non-indigenous people in the ensuing local body elections in Lekang and Diyun of Namsai district. The RO should ask for proper documents as per the check list and accordingly accept applications for contesting the election, it reiterated. 
Meanwhile, the union’s Vice President Meje Taku said it will never accept participation of non-indigenous in Vijoynagar although a few of them are still rigid to participate despite the state government’s order to defer the local body elections there. Taku informed that a delegation of the AAPSU had earlier met with the locals and the RO regarding non-indigenous participation in the election. The union, however, has welcomed the prompt action by the State BJP through withdrawal of nominations of its two non-Arunachalee candidates in Changlang district.
The demands placed by AAPSU in the representation to the state government are-complete ban of Non-Arunachalee participation in Panchayat and Municipal elections, ban on issue of Domicile/Temporary Residence Certificate, amendments to rectify flaws in the Arunachal Panchayati Raj Act 1997 and upholding of Daying Ering Recommendations of 1965 for PR elections.

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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.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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