NEW DELHI, Jul 31:  Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President  Bosiram Siram called on Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha,  Rahul Gandhi at his residence at 10 Janpath, New Delhi. He was accompanied by Dr. A. Chellakumar, AICC General Secretary and in-charge of Arunachal Pradesh.
During the cordial meeting, Rahul Gandhi warmly congratulated  Bosiram Siram on his recent appointment as APCC President and extended best wishes for a fruitful and people-centric leadership term.
Siram also brought to the fore pressing constitutional disparities concerning Article 371(H) of the Statehood Act of Arunachal Pradesh. He urged for its rectification and modification, drawing comparisons with Article 371(A) of Nagaland and 371(G) of Mizoram, which grant greater autonomy over land and natural resources to the indigenous people of those states.
He emphasized that under the current framework, tribals in Arunachal are deprived of rightful ownership over their Jal (water), Jungle (forest), and Zameen (land). He also expressed concern over the state’s minimal 10% equity share in major resource projects like hydropower, coal, oil, and mining—leaving 90% control to the Centre and private developers.
Rahul Gandhi reportedly took the matter seriously, acknowledging the economic and constitutional injustice, and assured  Siram of his commitment to take up the issue at appropriate platforms.
While apprising about the contentious Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) ,he highlighted the potential submergence of 27 villages, risking the displacement of over 1.5 lakh indigenous people, mostly from the Adi tribal community. The 11,000 MW mega dam—proposed to exceed 300 meters in height—has been facing strong resistance from local communities and civil society groups.
Siram cautioned against irreversible ecological damage, loss of ancestral lands, and destruction of cultural landmarks like Kekar Monying, a heritage site linked to Adi resistance against British colonial forces.
He criticized the state government’s forceful push for the project without obtaining Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) from affected communities, calling it a violation of indigenous rights under Article 371(H), PESA Act, 1996, and UNDRIP.
He also highlighted the seismic risks in Arunachal Pradesh, a Zone-V earthquake-prone area, which could render the mega-dam infrastructure vulnerable to catastrophic failure, landslides, and erosion.
Siram  further clarified that the Congress Party is not anti-development, but firmly against mega dams of unnatural heights that threaten the socio-cultural and ecological balance of the state.
Responding to the concerns, Rahul Gandhi acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue and assured that it would be evaluated with the gravity it deserves.
Siram also raised the issue of the New Pension Scheme (NPS), criticizing it for its market-dependency and lack of guaranteed post-retirement benefits for state employees. He urged the Congress leadership to advocate for the re-implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) to ensure dignified and secure retirements for thousands of government workers.
The meeting concluded on a hopeful note, with  Bosiram Siram extending a formal invitation to Rahul Gandhi to visit Arunachal Pradesh. Gandhi graciously accepted the invitation and asked the APCC President to initiate preparations for the visit, signaling a renewed political focus on the region.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
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