ITANAGAR, SEP 13:

The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) on Sunday convened a consultative meeting at the DK Convention Centre here to deliberate on several long-standing issues concerning Arunachal Pradesh, including the Chakma-Hajong issue, the Arunachal Pradesh-Assam inter-State boundary and constitutional safeguards under Article 371(H).

The meeting brought together representatives of the Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum (AITF), community-based organisations (CBOs), civil society organisations (CSOs), district students’ unions (DSUs), community-based students’ unions (CBSUs), branch students’ unions (BSUs), legal experts, political parties, former AAPSU leaders and other key stakeholders.

The consultation comes amid renewed tensions over the Chakma-Hajong issue in Changlang district following the recent violence during a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearing in Bordumsa. AAPSU had subsequently announced the consultative meeting to seek a collective response on the contentious issue.

Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Ojing Tasing, in a social media post, said the meeting provided a platform for a broad exchange of views on issues affecting the state’s identity, rights and constitutional protections.

He said the discussions underscored the need for a united and informed approach and called for the concerns and suggestions emerging from the consultation to be translated into sustained dialogue, coordinated action and follow-up with the appropriate authorities.

On the Chakma-Hajong issue, the consultation focused on the long-standing refugee question and concerns relating to the identity, rights and demographic interests of indigenous communities.

The Arunachal Pradesh-Assam inter-State boundary issue was also discussed, with emphasis on pursuing a peaceful and equitable resolution to outstanding boundary matters and ensuring security and stability along the inter-State border.

The meeting further deliberated on Article 371(H) of the Constitution, with participants advocating stronger constitutional safeguards tailored to the specific circumstances of Arunachal Pradesh, particularly in relation to land, resources and governance.

Tasing stressed the importance of collective resolve and responsibility in addressing the issues and safeguarding the interests, identity and constitutional protections of the indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh.

The consultation was also seen as an effort to bring different stakeholders onto a common platform and build consensus on issues that have remained sensitive and unresolved over the years. (Photo: Ojing Tasing in Facebook)