Rijiju calls for talks with all stakeholders for peace in Arunachal

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Monday urged the Arunachal Pradesh government to immediately initiate dialogue process with all stakeholders to restore peace in the northeastern state which has witnessed sustained violence over the move to grant permanent resident certificates to six communities living in the state.

Rijiju also clarified that the Pema Khandu-led state government has decided not to issue permanent residence certificate (PRC) to six non-Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribes and insisted on all political parties to discuss the issue.

"The violence erupted because of the state government's failure to communicate to the people that it will not implement the PRC. The state government has already decided that it will not issue PRC," Rijiju told the media here.

"Peace must be maintained at any cost. The state government must immediately talk to all organisations, civil society and all political parties to ensure peace and normalcy. There should not be any politics on this. When it comes to issues of the masses, we all must work together," he said.

Condemning the violence in capital Itanagar and Naharlagun that claimed three lives, Rijiju also asked the state government to provide monetary compensation and other support to the victims' families.

"It is unfortunate that three lives have been lost. Home Minister Rajnath Singh and I have spoken to Chief Minister Khandu and the Governor, and they have assured of the situation improving and normalcy returning," said Rijiju.

On Sunday, the Arunachal Pradesh government froze its decision on the controversial PRC that triggered widespread violence for a third day, leading to the torching of the Deputy Chief Minister's house.

The protests were called on Friday evening by 18 student and civil society groups to mount pressure on the Khandu government to scrap the PRC granting decision.

--IANS

and/nir