13 days on, PAJSC waiting for permission to hold indefinite peaceful dharna: Tadak Nalo

They have been requesting approval from the ICR District Commissioner cum District Magistrate, Talo Potom, for the past 13 days, but it has not been granted

Copy edited by Bhargobi Khaund

The Pan Arunachal Joint Steering Committee (PAJSC) in Itanagar is facing obstacles in obtaining permission for an indefinite peaceful dharna as part of their 13-point charter of demands. They have been requesting approval from the ICR District Commissioner cum District Magistrate, Talo Potom, for the past 13 days, but it has not been granted.

PAJSC Vice Chairman, Tadak Nalo, expressed their frustration, stating that the authority has limited its power to the No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by the Superintendent of Police in Itanagar. He emphasized that the Deputy Commissioner cum District Magistrate is the administrative head of the district and should have the authority to grant permission.

Nalo claimed that high-level authorities are intervening to prevent their peaceful protest. In their previous peaceful dharna, held from September 26 to October 26, they had hoped to bring their concerns to the attention of the state government. However, Chief Minister Pema Khandu stated that 13 of their points had been resolved. When they met the Chief Secretary, Dharmendra he contradicted this, saying the issues remained unresolved, and he wasn’t the competent authority to address them.

PAJSC insisted on their right to peacefully express their grievances and requested permission for an indefinite dharna. They emphasized that the Deputy Commissioner is the appropriate authority to grant this permission, while the Superintendent of Police can only grant permission for a one-day dharna.

In response, ICR DC cum District Magistrate Talo Potom expressed concerns that allowing the dharna could lead to a law and order situation in the region. He stated that PAJSC needs to obtain a NOC from the police administration before he can allow them to proceed with their indefinite peaceful dharna. Potom denied any involvement of high-level officials in preventing the protest when asked about it.

“They ( PAJSC) have to get NOC from police administration, and if they get it so I will allow them for the infinite peaceful dharna,” said Potom.

The 13-point charter of demands put forth by the PAJSC includes:

1.The chairman, secretary, members and all other official of APPSC from 2014 to 2022 must be immediately brought under the purview of investigation. If any discrepancies are reported, arrests must be made immediately.

2. Immediate constitution of fast- track court for prosecution of the accused involved in the APPSC paper leakage scams.
3. Immediate establishment of state administrative tribunal.
4. Immediate endorsement of (enforcement directorate) and court monitored probe and also immediate seizure of assets/properties (movable and immovable) of all the accused and the incumbents of APPSC along with their kit and kin.
5. Immediate disclosure of the status of the various departmental enquiry reports initiated so far against the various suspended or arrested officials and subsequent dismissal/ termination thereof.
6. Immediate disclosure of the three member committee report.
7. Suspension of all the upcoming examination till the completion of investigation process and endorse UPSC to conduct the upcoming examination till the completion of investigation process.
8. The higher officials above the rank of Deputy Secretary serving between 2014 to 2022 must be investigated and arrested if necessary.
9. Any exam found to have involved malpractices like paper leakage scams must be immediately declared ‘null and void’.
10. Inclusion of two members from the aspirants in the preparation of SOP (standard operating procedure) of APPSC.
11. Immediate legislation and implementation of whistle blower act with special provisions for the protection and rewards to the whistle blowers.
12. Justice for Mudang Yabyang, person with Disability (PWD) and the streamlining of selection criteria for PWD candidates.
13. Immediate recalling of the three officials posted under APPSC.

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