PASIGHAT, Oct 6: The Adi Baane Kebang (ABK) has urged the Arunachal Pradesh government to withdraw Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel deployed in the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP)-affected areas and restore a peaceful atmosphere through dialogue and consultation.
An ABK delegation led by its president Tanon Tatak participated in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pema Khandu at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall in Pasighat on Monday to discuss the SUMP-related situation and apprise him of the concerns and sentiments of people residing in the affected areas.
During the meeting, Tatak conveyed the decisions of the ABK Central Executive Body and appealed to the Chief Minister to take immediate steps to restore normalcy in the affected areas.
He said the concerns of the people should be addressed through dialogue, consultation and democratic processes rather than through measures that could create fear or tension among the local population.
The ABK president also informed the Chief Minister that the organisation would constitute five independent committees to visit the SUMP-affected areas and assess the ground situation. The committees will interact directly with affected families and communities to ascertain their concerns, views, apprehensions and willingness regarding the proposed project, he said.
According to the ABK, the findings of the committees will subsequently be deliberated upon, following which it will decide its position and further course of action in accordance with the views and wishes expressed by the affected people.
The ABK reiterated that the interests, safety and dignity of the people, along with their collective aspirations, must remain paramount. It said decisions concerning the future of the affected areas should be based on transparency, informed consultation and the genuine views of the people.