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ITANAGAR: The demand for Mon Autonomous Council (MAC) should not be a cause for political unrest, said National People's Party (NPP) State unit president Gicho Kabak. He added that the demand has no Constitutional standing now what with Arunachal Pradesh included in the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
The demand for creation of MAC has gained momentum in the State once again which has been criticized by various students' bodies of Arunachal Pradesh, even demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
While appreciating Khandu for running the government smoothly during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kabak along with NPP State unit vice president Nima Sangey Saling has said in a statement that any political upheaval for such a trivial reason would never go in larger interest of this State.
"The MAC covering Tawang and West Kameng districts and Patkai Autonomous Council (PAC) covering Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts was taken up for political reason in December 2003 to topple the then State government headed by Chief Minister Gegong Apang," the statement said.
"Apang had facilitated its approval in the State Assembly as a resolution on February 16, 2004. Since then all the Chief Ministers of the State, including Mukut Mithi, Dorjee Khandu, Jarbom Gamlin and Nabam Tuki had dittoed it for which the present Chief Minister, Pema Khandu cannot be blamed," the NPP leaders added.
Referring to the allegations by All Nyishi Youth Association (ANYA) against the Khandu that he had instigated the issue again on July 29 last by accepting a memorandum from the Monpa community during a function at Tawang raising the demand for autonomy, the NPP leaders said that India being a democratic nation, anyone could demand anything for which no leader can be blamed.
"The ANYA not only blamed Khandu for the new development but also demanded his resignation," they said.
There are examples of granting autonomous councils in the Northeast – three in Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram and one in Tripura - because those States are under the Sixth Schedule of Constitution of India. However, it is not possible in Arunachal Pradesh as the State is under the Fifth Schedule, the statement said.
The NPP leaders added that many political parties have been demanding inclusion of Arunachal Pradesh under the Sixth Schedule for making the Arunachalees owners of all natural resources instead of being protectors only. All should realize the Constitutional provisions and instead of blaming Khandu should unite to achieve the goal as both the present State and Central governments led by the BJP.
Moreover, the statement pointed out that the 'Statehood Act-1987' is defective, adding that Article 371 (H) gives extraordinary power to the Governor. This Act should also be amended by bringing the State under Article 371 (A) like Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram, they said.
"We should stand united and ask the State government to move the Centre for facilitating Constitutional amendment to enrich Arunachal's coffer instead of giving bandh call or any step that will not go in larger interest of the State," they added.
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