AAPSU Golden Jubilee Celebrations

 ITANAGAR, Oct 15:Chief Minister Pema Khandu today categorically stated that the State Government respects the emotions of the people and will not move away from its stand on the Chakma-Hajong issue.

Speaking at the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the state’s apex students organization, All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), here at Indira Gandhi Park, Khandu appealed the people to wait and watch the ongoing Assembly proceedings, which is expected to raise the issue of Chakma-Hajong in view of the Supreme Court’s directive to grant them Indian citizenship.

“I will not say anything today. The 14^th session of the 6^th Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly is on. Watch its proceedings live on TV and in the next couple of days you will see for yourself where the state government stands on the issue of refugees and their status in the state,” said Khandu.

He said enough has been debated about whose fault it is for settling Chakmas and Hajongs in Arunachal Pradesh but now it is time to act.

“Our government is here not to run away from challenges but to face them and resolve them,” he said while indicating that there’s no time left to play the ‘blame game’ but to unite and take on the refugee challenges together.

On the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy (TRP) too, Khandu said that the Assembly would come out with a consensus and appealed all not to weigh the Chakma-Hajong and Tibetan issue on the same scale.

“These are two separate issues. However, we are alive to the sentiments and apprehensions of the indigenous communities of the state and we represent them, not the refugees,” he affirmed.

Citing the debate on a Private Member Resolution on Industrial Policy in the Assembly, Khandu said the state government will re-visit the policy and have consultations with every stakeholder. He said discussions on it will not only be confined to the Assembly but the government will discuss and take concrete suggestions from experts, intellectuals, officials, social activists and community based organizations outside the Assembly before coming out with a revamped policy.

The Chief Minister also made it clear that while developmental projects like hydro projects and industries are necessary for revenue as well as employment generation, these will not be implemented at the cost of environment, community land and their livelihood.

Urging the student community to stress on education while being alive to happenings of concern around them, Khandu said the government is committed to improve the quality of education and quality of students.

He pointed that AAPSU in its fifty years of existence has produced several legislators, politicians, state level officers and even a Chief Minister but hardly any IAS, IPS or IFS officers. He said this needs to be taken seriously by student leaders while celebrating fifty glorious years of the Union.

While informing that Arunachal Pradesh has recently been awarded the ‘Best State in Education’ by the India Today Group, Khandu however expressed concern over the diminishing number of students in government schools as per a survey by Niti Aayog.

“We have decided to scrap the no-detention policy in schools as provided by the RTE act so that we have quality students coming out of government schools,” he added.

MoS Home Kiren Rijiju, in his address, rejected all speculations about his stand on the Chakma-Hajong refugee issue and said he stands firm on his stand that rights of the indigenous communities of the state will not be compromised.

“Till I am alive, I will not allow the rights of the indigenous communities to be diluted in any manner,” he announced.

Rijiju revealed that being a Minister in the Central Government, rules do not allow him to be outspoken and he has to maintain protocol. He, however, made it clear that when it comes to the refugee issue, he stood by the sentiments and emotions of the indigenous people.

“As an elected representative, I have more responsibilities than you all,” he said while requesting AAPSU leaders not to get frustrated by mischief mongers who were out to tarnish them for their affinity to elected representatives.

“If I am not consulted, if the Chief Minister is not approached, whom will the people (AAPSU) go to, to resolve issues?” he questioned. 

Rijiu also cautioned AAPSU against perpetrators of communal hatred and appealed the students to observe restraint while debating or commenting on social media like Facebook.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who attended the function as Chief Guest, while congratulating AAPSU on reaching the milestone recollected his days in All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and North East Students Organization (NESO).

Asserting that Arunachal Pradesh, with its largest geographical area in the North East, has a major role to play in development of the region, Sonowal exuberated confidence that under Chief Minister Pema Khandu it will play the role to perfection.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi views North East as the future strength of India and therefore has put special emphasis on its development on all fronts.

“We are geographically divided as states but we are one entity- the North East. Therefore development of North East depends on development of each of the northeastern states. And we can only develop by supporting and cooperating with each other.

Lauding AAPSU for its contribution in the development of the state and the region, Sonowal said the future of North East and India is in safe and strong hands.

Extending  support to AAPSU on Chakma-Hajong refugee issue, Advisor North East Students Organization (NESO) Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharjya opined that entire NE students are with AAPSU against refugees . ‘Arunachal and other NE states are not dumping ground where every refugee will be allowed to settle like Chakma Hajong refugees..there are challenges of  Rohingya refugee and illegal Bangladeshis,’ in Assam and other NE states. So we have to work unitedly,’ he  urged.

The opening ceremony of the AAPSU Golden Jubilee celebration was also attended by Arunachal Deputy CM Chowna Mein, Education Minister Honchun Ngandam, Lok Sabha MP from Lkahimpur Pradhan Barua, veteran student leader and NESO Advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya, leaders of NESO and student organizations from various north-eastern states, former AAPSU leaders including Eken Riba, Nyodek Yonggam and others.

 

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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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