ADC demands intensify in Arunachal Pradesh

Itanagar, May 22: The movement for creation of two autonomous district councils (ADCs) in Arunachal Pradesh comprising Tirap-Changlang and Tawang-West Kameng districts intensified with people resorting to massive public rallies.

Over 2600 people belonging to various communities of Tawang and West Kameng districts led by their elected leaders took out a massive rally at Bomdila demanding immediate creation of Mon ADC.

The issue had rocked the state assembly on March 20 last after it was raised by Wanglin Lowangdong, the first time MLA from Tirap, demanding ADC for these four backward districts, while reminding the house of its unanimous approval to the issue in February 2004.

However, 19 legislators of those districts had constituted a Joint Legislature Forum for the purpose and univocally pleaded the state government to pursue the Centre to honour their demand.

Forum convenor T G Rinpoche had also announced that all its members would abide by the decision even at the cost of "losing their respective MLA seat".

The Rinpoche said that a memorandum for ADC had already been submitted to UPA chairman Sonia Gandhi and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil. "Half of the fight has been won without shedding any blood as the state assembly had already passed bill for ADC in 2004", he said.

Autonomy region status would solve problems in the fields of education, economy and social development, Lok Sabha MP Kiren Rijiju, who took part in the rally informed.

Disclosing that all party Himalayan MPs Forum, Buddhist MPs Forum, CPI and CPI (M) MPs had assured full support to the demand of ADC, Mr Rijiju said. He said a bill should be introduced in Parliament at the earliest irrespective of political affiliations.

Disclosing that a dharna has also been planned in front of Parliament during monsoon session, Mr Rijiju said the demand for autonomy was "our fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution."

UNI