Staff Reporter 

NAMSAI, Aug 26: The Tai Khamti Development Society (TKDS) and Tai Khamti Singpho Council (TKSC) have demanded an unconditional apology from Milo Ambo, General Secretary of the Arunachal ST Bachao Andolan Committee (ASBAC), within three days over his remarks questioning the Scheduled Tribe status and ST certificates of Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein.
Addressing a press briefing, General Secretary TKDS Chau Anuradha Mantaw  said the remarks had not only targeted the Deputy Chief Minister but had also hurt the sentiments of the wider Tai Khamti and Singpho communities. They described the allegations circulating on social media as serious and potentially defamatory.
The organisations strongly defended Chowna Mein’s tribal identity, asserting that he belongs to the Tai Khamti community and is a recognised leader of the community. They also highlighted the historical significance of the term “Gohain”, arguing that it is a traditional title rather than a surname and has historical associations within the Tai Khamti community.
Responding to questions raised over the Deputy Chief Minister allegedly holding three ST certificates, the representatives said the certificates were issued at different points following changes in administrative jurisdictions and regulations. According to their explanation, one certificate was issued in 1983 during Union Territory Era, where clerical error was done, another in 1999 after Arunachal Pradesh attained statehood as per new regulation; and a third in 2019 following the creation of Namsai district from Lohit district. They maintained that the certificates were obtained under the applicable administrative arrangements of the respective periods.
Legal Advisor TKSC, Adv Witho Mantaw also pointed to the legal procedure applicable in cases involving allegations of fraudulent ST certificates. Citing the Supreme Court’s Kumari Madhuri Patil judgment, they said allegations regarding the validity of an ST certificate should be examined through the competent scrutiny mechanism rather than through public declarations. They referred to the requirement of a three-member scrutiny committee constituted by the State Government for examining the legality and validity of such certificates.
He also questioned why Milo Ambo, despite being associated with the ST Bachao Andolan, had not approached the competent authority or scrutiny mechanism if he genuinely believed there was an irregularity in the Deputy Chief Minister’s ST certificate.
The organisation has given Milo Ambo three days to tender an apology, stating that the apology should address what they described as remarks that hurt the sentiments of the Tai Khamti community and allegedly damaged the reputation of Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein.
The organisations warned that failure to apologise within the stipulated period could lead them to consider appropriate legal remedies.

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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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