Staff REPORTER
ITANAGAR, Oct 31: Opposition to the proposed 11,000-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) reached the national capital, as concerned citizens and Arunachal Pradesh youths staged a demonstration in New Delhi on Friday, expressing solidarity with the people of the Siang region and demanding that their concerns be heard.
The protesters opposed the proposed mega dam, citing concerns over its potential impact on indigenous communities, their ancestral land, identity, traditional livelihoods and cultural heritage. They also called for the release of activists and other persons detained in connection with the ongoing protests in Arunachal Pradesh.
Several students were reportedly detained by the Delhi Police during the demonstration, including Katon Moyong, popularly known as ‘Aborman’.
Meanwhile, the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) strongly condemned the reported detentions and demanded the immediate release of all protesters, if they were not required to be held on lawful grounds.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the APCC said it was concerning that indigenous youths who had travelled to the national capital to draw the attention of the Centre to issues surrounding SUMP had reportedly been detained instead of being heard.
The party maintained that peaceful protest and freedom of expression were constitutional democratic rights and said the concerns of communities potentially affected by a major development project deserved meaningful engagement rather than intimidation.
Questioning the government's assurances that SUMP would not be pursued without public consultation, the APCC said the reported detentions raised concerns about the credibility of such assurances. It stressed that strategic considerations should not override the rights and aspirations of indigenous communities or bypass transparency, public consultation and the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
The APCC called for disclosure of the grounds of detention, the whereabouts of those detained and the legal provisions under which they were being held, along with due intimation to their families. It also sought an assurance that peaceful protesters would not face intimidation or harassment for exercising their democratic rights.
The party further demanded meaningful dialogue with affected communities, indigenous organisations, student bodies and civil society representatives before proceeding with SUMP-related activities. It called for suspension of further project-related activities until the concerns of affected communities were addressed through a credible consultation process.
The APCC said it was not opposed to development but maintained that development should be people-centric, democratic and environmentally responsible, with due regard to the rights, dignity and future of indigenous communities.
It appealed to the Centre and Delhi Police to exercise restraint and uphold constitutional values while handling the situation.