Peace must prevail in Arunachal Pradesh, says Kiren Rijiju

NEW DELHI: Union minister of state for home and MP from Arunachal Pradesh Kiren Rijiju on Monday said both home minister Rajnath Singh and he had conveyed to chief minister Pema Khandu that normalcy be restored at the earliest in the state, witnessing unrest over the issue of granting permanent residency rights to six communities, by initiating a dialogue with civil society.

“The home minister (Rajnath Singh) and I have spoken to the governor and the chief minister and told them that peace must be prevailed and adequate compensation should be given to the victims of police firing,” Rijiju told mediapersons here on Monday.

Rijiju however ruled out any move to replace Khandu, as demanded by Congress in a memorandum submitted to Rajnath Singh, or the imposition of President’s rule.

He however conceded that the state government had failed to properly communicate with the people on the contentious PRC issue, leading to the unrest. He said the Pema Khandu government in the state should take all possible steps, including initiating dialogue with the civil society, to bring normalcy as early as possible, as there was confusion on the issue of granting permanent residence certificate (PRC) to six communities.

Earlier on Monday, AICC general secretary in charge of north-east Luizinho Faleiro, Arunachal PCC chief Takam Sanjoy and former chief minister Nabam Tuki had demanded the sacking of Khandu, his deputy Chowna Mein and MoS (home) Kiren Rijiu.

In a memorandum submitted to home minister Singh, they also sought setting up of a commission of inquiry, headed by a sitting high court judge or retired Chief Justice of high court, into the firing and killing of protestors in Arunachal.

At least three people lost their lives during violent protests over granting PRC to six non-Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APSTs) communities living in Namsai and Changlang districts - Deoris, Sonowal-Kacharis, Morans, Adivasis and Mishings - and to the Gorkhas living in Vijaynagar.

Most of these communities are recognised as Scheduled Tribes in neighbouring Assam.

Rijiju, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, said the state government should give compensation to those who were killed and those who received injuries.