ES Reporter

 

ITANAGAR, Jan 8: Reiterating its demand for an immediate restoration of the Arunachal Bhawan in Mumbai, the Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union Maharashtra (APSUM) today organized a peaceful dharna here at the Tennis Court in IG Park.

Hundreds of people including APSUM members, students, NGOs and common people participated in the dharna. Besides seeking an urgent infrastructural restoration of the Arunachal Bhawan, the union has demanded furnishing of the lease agreement, official appointment of DRC and ARC along with supporting staff and an official clarification for not handing over the matter to the General Administration Department. 

Speaking to reporters, APSUM President Tapo Riang informed that since the last ten months they are fighting for the issues but the state government hasn’t paid any heed to them. For most of the cancer patients from Arunachal who go to Mumbai for treatment depend largely on Arunachal Bhawan as Mumbai is too costly for them, Riang said, adding that it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to stay there due to lack of proper facilities. “We are demanding immediate restoration of the facility including renovation of the dilapidated rooms as per the Memorandum of Understanding inked with Arunachal Pradesh Industrial Development & Financial Corporation (APIDFC) and US Roofs so that people of Arunachal who visit Mumbai for medical purposes get proper help,” the APSUM President stated while giving reasons for the sit-in.

Riang further claimed that way back in 1994, Mumbai’s City and Industrial Development Cooperation allotted land to the government of Arunachal Pradesh for developing its guesthouse-cum-emporium. However, the government leased it to US Roofs Company Limited, who went on to use it commercially, he alleged while demanding a disclosure of the details of the lease agreement.

The department, however, has failed to provide the same till date, Riang informed.