The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on September 9 protested after it was allegedly denied an appointment with Vice President C P Radhakrishnan during his visit to the state, saying the party was unable to submit a memorandum on several issues concerning Arunachal Pradesh.
APCC president Bosiram Siram said the Congress had formally sought an appointment through the chief secretary on September 4 but did not receive a response. He described the denial as “deeply unfortunate” and questioned why the principal opposition party was not given an opportunity to place issues concerning the people of the state before the Vice President.
The memorandum that the Congress had proposed to submit included demands related to national security, frontier development, constitutional safeguards, hydropower projects and the protection of indigenous interests.
One of the key demands was the creation of a dedicated Arunachal Regiment to increase the recruitment of local youth, particularly from frontier districts and villages, into the armed forces. The party said greater participation of local youth in the armed forces would strengthen national security while also creating employment opportunities.
The APCC also called for an all-party parliamentary and political delegation to visit Taksing and other vulnerable frontier areas. Such a visit, it said, would help assess the situation of border communities and examine issues related to security forces, connectivity and access to essential services.
The Congress demanded reliable all-weather road connectivity to Taksing and other strategically important areas. It also sought better healthcare, education, communication, emergency services and other basic infrastructure in frontier regions, arguing that development in these areas was closely connected with national security.
The party further sought uninterrupted logistical support for security personnel deployed along the Himalayan frontier. This included adequate manpower, equipment, specialised clothing, food, fuel, transportation, communication facilities and medical support.
