ITANAGAR, Aug 12: The state unit of the National People’s Party has opined that the demand for creation of Mon Autonomous Council (MAC) will fail the test of constitutional validity as Arunachal Pradesh is in the 5th Schedule of the Constitution of India and as such any political unrest arising out of it is uncalled for. 
In a press release issued on Wednesday, the party’s state President Gicho Kabak and Vice President Nima Sangey Saling in a joint statement while citing the examples of autonomous councils in Northeast which are currently three in Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram and one in Tripura, reasoned they have been possible only since these states are under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution, which is unlike Arunachal Pradesh where provisions of the 5th Schedule are exclusively applicable.
Appreciating Chief Minister Pema Khandu for running the state smoothly and for paying salaries and pensions timely despite financial difficulties caused by Covid-19 pandemic, NPP said any political upheaval for such a trivial reason would never go in the larger interest of the state. Recalling the timeline of autonomous council demands, the party stated that the demands for MAC covering Tawang and West Kameng districts and Patkai Autonomous Council (PAC) covering Tirap and Changlang districts (now Longding) were floated for political reasons way back in December 2003 to topple the then state government headed by Chief Minister Gegong Apang, who with political wisdom facilitated its approval in the state assembly in form of a resolution on February 16, 2004.
Taking exception to the evolving trend of blaming solely the current CM for the fiasco, the state unit reminded that all preceding CMs of the state including Mukut Mithi, Dorjee Khandu, Jarbom Gamlin and Nabam Tuki had also endorsed the demand for creation of autonomous councils. Giving its views regarding Khandu’s presence in the Mon Autonomous Region Demand Committee (MARDC) meeting, the state unit through its release said as he was invited as chief guest at the Monpa Mimang Tsogpa conference in Tawang on July 29 last, a reminder to the Central government for granting MAC in the form of a memorandum was just handed over to him. Reacting to the demand for CM’s resignation over the issue as put forward by the All Nyishi Youth Association, the release said such demands can be made by anyone as India is a democratic nation.
Elaborating on the demand for inclusion of Arunachal Pradesh in the 6th Schedule as raised by various political parties in the state, the release said all Arunachalees should stand united and exhort the state government to move the Centre for facilitating the Constitutional amendment which would allow the state to be the “owner of all natural resources instead of being protectors” and enrich its coffer.
The party has also appealed to refrain from calling bandh or resorting to any step that would not go in the larger interests of the state. Terming the current Statehood Act, 1987 under Article 371 (H) “defective” which gives extraordinary powers to the Governor, state NPP has called for its immediate amendment to bring it under Article 371 (A) like Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram. “Once these are done, Arunachal Pradesh would be one of the richest states in India,” the release added.

It needs mentioning that NPP with 4 members in the 60-member state assembly extends support to the ruling BJP-led government which has 41 members. The other members are JD (U)-7, INC-4, PPA-1 and Independents-3. NPP PR 

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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
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