GUWAHATI: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) has questioned the silence and stand of the state government on the talks between the central government and NSCN-IM.
In a statement, the students union asked whether the Arunachal Pradesh government was party to the talks or whether any consultation was made by the central government representatives to assuage the concerns of the people of the state.
“As previously assured, the government of India should take the people of Arunachal Pradesh including all stakeholders into confidence and address all concerns before framing the accord as failure to do so might lead to large-scale social unrest in the state,” the statement said.
The union reiterated that it has always welcomed the ongoing talks between the Centre and NSCN-IM for lasting peace in the Northeast region, respecting the demands and aspirations of the people.
“But we have also made it very clear from the very beginning that any solution should not be at the cost of territorial integrity and administrative interference of Arunachal Pradesh,” it said.
AAPSU condemned the Tirap Changlang and Longding People’s Forum from issuing “misleading” statements claiming that peace would only return to the insurgency-infested Tirap, Changlang and Longding (TLC) districts of the state through the talks and accord with NSCN-IM and other insurgent groups.
“The insurgent activities and the players involved in the three districts are not home-grown but are ones from outside the state who, for years have taken the people of the three districts for a ride,” it claimed.
“AAPSU has been relentlessly working for the people of the state since 1947 and has constantly voiced its opposition to anti-social activities and disturbances created in the TLC region by insurgent groups,” it said.