Arunachal Pradesh 2013: Stapled visas, Chinese incursions dominate news

Itanagar: Incursion by Chinese troops, stapled visas, refugees, permanent residence certificates and boundary dispute with Assam were some of the issues that grabbed headlines in Arunachal Pradesh in 2013. In a face-off, People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops intruded more than 20 km inside the Indian territory in Changlagam area of Arunachal’s Anjaw district in August and stayed for over two days. The issue evoked widespread reaction in the state with Chief Minister Nabam Tuki condemning it in the floor of the Assembly. The apex students’ union – All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) also staged several protest rallies.[caption id=“attachment_1302805” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  President Pranab Mukherjee delivering the convocation address at the 12th Convocation of Rajiv Gandhi University, at Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh on 30 November 2013. Image courtesy PIB[/caption] Arunachal Pradesh also raised the stapled visa issue with the Centre through Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Ninong Ering during the year. Two young women archers from the state could not participate in the Youth World Archery Championship at Wuxi as they were issued stapled Chinese visas. Immigration officials at Delhi’s IGI Airport stopped Mihu Maselo and Yumi Sorang from boarding a China Southern Airlines flight to Guangzhou on 10 October. There was lot of anguish over the issue and it was raised by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing. But there was not much forward movement on the issue. China also reacted to President Pranab Mukherjee’s maiden visit to the state on November, saying it “hoped India would refrain from actions that complicate the boundary question”. During his address to the special session of the state Assembly, Mukherjee termed Arunachal as an “integral and important part” of the country. The contentious refugee issue also hogged the limelight in the state during the year. The refugees, mostly belonging to Chakma and Hajong tribes from neighbouring Bangladesh, have been living in the state since 1990s. The AAPSU along with the state government constituted a joint high power committee which carried out a joint survey in the refugee concentrated areas in Tirap, Changlang and Papum Pare during August. Opposing tooth and nail the state government’s decision to grant PRCs to non-Arunachalees, the AAPSU launched a vigorous movement on the issue during the year. The stalemate between Arunachal and Assam over boundary dispute continued during the year. The Supreme Court constituted Local Boundary Commission visited the disputed areas in the inter-state boundary during November to take stock of the ground realities. In a blow to the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress which made its entry into the state’s electoral politics in 2009 by winning five assembly seats, its state unit with lone MLA Laeta Umbrey merged with People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) on April 10. Earlier in October 2012, four Trinamool legislators joined the Congress in the state. The state unit of the party was also dissolved after the merger. Former MLAs Donglo Sonam and Lobsang Tsering and former ministers Wangnia Pongte, Niani Natung and Indrajit Namchoom died during the year. Congress nominee Gum Tayeng elected unopposed from Dambuk Assembly constituency after her husband and sitting MLA Jomin Tayeng died on 7 May. Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma was sworn in as the 15th governor of the state on 29 May last after retirement of Gen (Retd) JJ Singh. The year did not seem to be a smooth one for two Congress legislators who had to face the wrath of law. While CBI registered a criminal case against MLA Phurpa Tsering from Dirang in August on charge of anomalies in land acquisition and payment of compensation for the Trans Arunachal Highway project, Parliamentary Secretary for Tax & Excise Lokam Tassar was arrested in December for his alleged involvement in snatching and burning of E-roll documents. The demand for creation of Mon and Patkai Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) also intensified in the state during the year. The law and order situation remained grim during the year with a large number of cases of abduction, murder and dacoity reported. At least 20 cases of atrocities against women were also reported. Natural calamity and epidemic claimed over 100 people while several buildings, roads and bridges were washed away in massive floods that hit the state. In sports, Tame Bagang, a SSB head constable, became the fifth person from the state to scale the Mount Everest in May, while Anshu Jamsenpa and Tina Mena successfully scaled the Bara Shigri Glacier, the second largest in the world in August. The foundation stone was laid for establishment of the National Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (NIMAS) at Dirang in West Kameng district in October. The state government adopted the new sports policy while Rerading Football Club (RFC) of England inked MoU with the state government for grooming soccer talent in the state. Described as the future power house of India, Arunachal Pradesh with a hydropower potential of over 50,000 MW, witnessed mass protest against power projects in the state. While the 2x30 kw Ashapani micro hydel project was commissioned in remote Anjaw district, the state government scrapped seven power projects with installed capacity of 1,258 MW with the power developers due to non-performance and breach of agreement as per the MoUs. Several anti-dam organisations opposed three proposed mega projects in the Siang belt (East, West and Upper Siang districts) with a total installed capacity of 12, 450 mw, while All Galo Students’ Union and Siang Bachao Federation opposed the public hearing for environmental clearance of 186 MW Tato-I project at Mechuka. The state government also approved creation of four new districts. Congress shone in the first ever municipal elections held at Itanagar and Pasighat and panchayat elections held in May. PTI