| Staff REPORTER |
ITANAGAR, Nov 2: The Arunachal Frontier Tribal Front (AFTF) has condemned the alleged mistreatment and detention of Arunachali protesters by Delhi Police during a demonstration against the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) in New Delhi on Saturday.
Addressing reporters at the Arunachal Press Club here on Monday, AFTF chairman Tadak Nallo questioned the alleged treatment of protesters and said people from Arunachal Pradesh should not be subjected to such action for raising concerns over a development project.
The organisation also expressed disappointment over what it described as the silence of state representatives in the national capital over the detention of the protesters.
Questioning statements made by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and other political leaders, the AFTF raised concerns over the handling of the SUMP issue and alleged that the voices of people in the Siang belt were being suppressed in the name of development. It also questioned whether the interests and ancestral land rights of local communities were being adequately protected.
The organisation blamed the political leadership for what it termed the mishandling of the situation and warned that continued neglect of public sentiment could lead to further unrest.
The AFTF announced plans to launch a movement in Itanagar and other parts of the state. It also announced a consultative meeting involving stakeholders on November 8 at 9 am at DK Convention Centre, Itanagar.
According to Nallo, the meeting will discuss the SUMP issue as well as other concerns affecting the state, including alleged Chinese encroachment in the Taksing area.
The organisation appealed to political parties, students’ unions, college students and other stakeholders, particularly the younger generation, to participate in the meeting.
AFTF clarified that it would not join the ongoing efforts by PRAC for the release of detained protesters until it had convened the proposed consultative meeting and discussed the matter collectively with stakeholders.
The organisation reiterated that the concerns and rights of the people of Arunachal Pradesh must be heard and respected.