NEW DELHI/ITANAGAR, Oct 31:
Hundreds of students and activists on Saturday gheraoed Arunachal Bhawan in New Delhi to protest against the proposed 11,200-megawatt Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), demanding the release of detainees, withdrawal of the project and removal of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) deployed amid unrest in Arunachal Pradesh.
Organised under the banners of Himkhand and Youth for Change, the demonstration witnessed protesters raising anti-dam slogans and calling for an end to what they described as a crackdown on those opposing the project. Delhi Police detained several demonstrators, including Siang hydropower activist Katon Moyong, popularly known as Aborman. Heavy police deployment was witnessed outside Arunachal Bhawan during the protest.
The demonstration in the national capital comes amid growing opposition to SUMP in Arunachal Pradesh, where indigenous communities and student organisations have raised concerns over possible displacement, submergence of ancestral lands, ecological damage, loss of traditional livelihoods and threats to cultural identity.
The agitation has intensified following recent clashes in Pasighat, where protests reportedly turned violent after police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators. Authorities reported stone-pelting, injuries to police personnel and extensive damage to public and private property.
Indigenous organisations, including the Adi Bane Kebang United and the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum, have also voiced concerns over the potential impact of the proposed project on villages, ancestral lands, biodiversity and the fragile ecology of the seismically active Siang region.
Reacting to Saturday’s detention, the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) condemned the police action and demanded the immediate release of all Arunachal protesters detained in Delhi.
In a statement, APCC General Secretary-cum-Spokesperson Kon Jirjo Jotham said it was concerning that indigenous youths who had travelled to the national capital to draw the Centre’s attention to issues surrounding the proposed mega dam had reportedly been detained instead of being heard.
The APCC said the protesters were raising legitimate concerns over the potential impact of SUMP on ancestral land, indigenous identity, traditional livelihoods, cultural heritage and environmental security. It maintained that such concerns warranted democratic engagement and meaningful consultation.
The committee said the right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression were fundamental democratic rights guaranteed by the Constitution. It also questioned the government’s assurances that the project would not be imposed without public consultation, saying the reported detention of protesters raised concerns about the credibility of those assurances.
The APCC demanded disclosure of the grounds and legal provisions for the detentions, information about the whereabouts of those held and due intimation to their families. It also called for an assurance that peaceful protesters would not face intimidation or harassment.
Further, the party sought transparent dialogue with affected communities, indigenous organisations, student bodies and civil society representatives before any further progress on SUMP. It also demanded suspension of project-related activities until the concerns of affected communities were addressed through a credible consultation process.
Maintaining that it was not opposed to development, the APCC said projects of strategic or economic significance should not come at the expense of the rights, dignity and future of indigenous communities. It appealed to the Centre and Delhi Police to handle the situation with restraint and respect for democratic freedoms.
The protesters, meanwhile, sought to draw national attention to the growing resistance to SUMP and urged the Centre and the state government to reconsider their approach to the proposed project. (With inputs from ETV Bharat report)
