The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) has submitted a comprehensive 13-point memorandum to Chief Minister Pema Khandu, demanding urgent constitutional, legislative, and administrative interventions to safeguard the rights, identity, and land of the state’s indigenous communities. Led by AAPSU President Meje Taku and General Secretary Mato Bui, the apex student body described the document as a crucial roadmap for protecting Arunachal Pradesh’s demographic security and political future.
A primary demand in the memorandum is the abolition of the existing 80:20 recruitment ratio in state examinations conducted by the APPSC and APSSB. The union argues that employment opportunities reserved for Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) candidates must not be diluted. To ensure transparency, AAPSU called for mandatory verification of Permanent Residence Certificates (PRC) and APST certificates during government hiring, alongside strict action against anyone using forged documents.
Furthermore, the union proposed amending the Arunachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act of 1997 to make valid PRC and APST certificates mandatory for contesting local elections. On a larger scale, AAPSU pressed for constitutional amendments to strengthen Article 371(H) and sought the inclusion of Arunachal Pradesh under the Sixth Schedule to grant it protections on par with Nagaland and Mizoram.
The memorandum also addresses critical security and social issues. AAPSU reiterated its demand for a permanent resolution to the Chakma-Hajong issue and urged stricter enforcement of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system to curb illegal immigration from Bangladesh and Myanmar. Other key proposals include establishing permanent CUET exam centers, addressing the stapled visa issue with the Ministry of External Affairs, and pushing for a central anti-racism law. Chief Minister Khandu reportedly received the memorandum positively, assuring the union that the points raised would be examined promptly.
