PPA Reiterates its Demand to Amend the 'defective' Statehood Act of 1987

Arunachal Pradesh: The People's Party of Arunachal PPA today reiterated its demand for amending the "defective" Statehood Act of 1987, included in Article 371 H of the Indian Constitution.

In a statement issued by the regional party it has urged the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu and the Members of Parliament to initiate fresh dialogue with the Central Government for amendment of the Statehood Act of 1987.

"The act was passed by the parliament without the constitutional backing of the assembly overlooking the genuine concerns and grievances of the indigenous people of the state," stated PPA Secretary General Kaling Jerang.

Jerang further stated, "The PPA has always been reminding the people of the state how we have been living with this defective act, which is hollow and empty and does not hold anything worthwhile for the indigenous people in terms of ownership rights over its land, rivers, forests and minerals."

The party asserted, "Now that both the Centre and the state are ruled by the same political party, there could not have been a better opportunity to initiate a fresh dialogue with the Centre on the long-pending issue."

Jerang said that his party has also been demanding to extend Arunachal Pradesh with similar constitutional rights that has been provided to the other Northeastern states like Nagaland and Mizoram.

According to the provision of Article 371 (H), the state governor has special responsibility with respect to law and order in the state and in the discharge of his functions in relation thereto. The party has earlier also urged the central government to waive Article 371 H and put Arunachal under the provisions of Article 371 (A) and 37 (G) in line with Nagaland and Mizoram.

As Arunachal Pradesh celebrates Statehood Day on February 20, the Statehood Day should be an occasion to introspect on the strength and viability of the continued relevance of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) 1873, as well, he said.

The party also expressed its apprehension on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 passed by the Parliament and urged the people of the state to speak in unison for the BEFR to be given the status of a Parliamentary act rather than continuing to live with the British-made regulation.

The BEFR is a regulation commonly referred to as the Inner Line Permit (ILP), that restricts the entry of persons who were non-native to the areas covered under it.

This regulation is applied to the districts of Kamrup, Darrang, Nowgong (Naogaon), Sibsagar, Lakhimpur, Garo Hills, Khasi and Jaintia Hills, Naga Hills, and Cachar.

It was further extended to the Eastern Dooars in Goalpara district, the Mokokchung subdivision in the Naga Hills, the Sadiya Frontier Tract, the Balipara Frontier Tract, and the Lakhimpur Frontier Tract along the then NEFA (now Arunachal Pradesh).

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