Jarpum Gamlin
Published in The Sentinel ARUNACHAL
Second week of June starts on 06 and ends on 12. Both the days are significant. And one would like to serve a reminder to all those responsible citizens and leaders who might think that memories of public are short. June 6, that is the first day of this second week of June, marks the completion of a year since All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) submitted a memorandum to the Khandu led government without an outcome so far. Ardent fans of AAPSU never expected them to end up with a thud and a whimper especially when they made sure that GoAP is served a reminder letter on January 7 last. All the dailies in the state went on record [dateline reading January 6] with lead story of AAPSU serving a reminder letter to the Dorjee Khandu led government to act within 2 months on its memorandum. That was then. Deadline expired on March 6 last. It is more than 3 months since the deadline; thus, as a gentle reminder to all and sundry including the office bearers of AAPSU, once again, it may be noted that memorandum had 15 points with 11 sub-points running into 8 pages in it. Few of those demands sounded legitimate like 200 crores special package for education sector, white paper on hydropower, scrapping of APST certificates of non-APSTs and also there were few demands which sounded frivolous like scrapping of non-practicing allowance of doctors. Cynics would have had mixed reactions about the laundry list of demands from day zero but naïve populace, which most of the Arunachalees are, took AAPSU seriously and had hoped that AAPSU would continue to pursue it till the goal is reached. But officer bearers’ silence on that particular memorandum despite completion of an anniversary is deafening.
Practically, as any critic of AAPSU would have pointed out, it appears that AAPSU chewed more than what it could eat. All points except deportation of Chakma-Hajong are new. Chakma-Hajong issue is like a fish-bone stuck in the throat- neither it goes down nor it can be taken out. Three decades since formation of AAPSU in 1972 and at least 18 presidents and general secretaries of AAPSU have come and gone by; but Chakma-Hajong issue is caught in time-warp. The then AAPSU President, who made refugee as an issue at regional level is a cabinet minister now and who made the same issue a national headline is now a Member of Parliament. Serious persuasion of ‘Chakma-Hajong’ issue is within a striking distance if old boys association of AAPSU works together. This is where one thinks that there is a definite lack of ‘core think-tank’ and such deficiency is reflected in discontinuity and inconsistency of its agenda and actions at ground. One can look at them with great trepidation when they roll all over the places, gathering no moss
.
June 12, that is another significant day of this week. It shall mark the end of a month since kidnapping of Vilas Bardekar if not rescued. Vilas Bardekar, senior IFS from Maharashtra was kidnapped, allegedly by NDFB militants from Kamengbari area while he was on vacation. Perhaps, for the first time a high ranking official who is a guest of Arunachal has been kidnapped by the parasitic ultras from neighbouring state. Media houses waited with bated breathe for an update from GoAP on latest development in this high profile kidnapping case but it has been few days shy of a month without an update. Take this with best compliments from The Sentinel: Atleast for weeks, his mobile was active and, as per reliable sources, he spoke to his wife too. Within a fortnight, it was also learnt that a ransom call of atleast a crore was made to his family; since then, it has gone up atleast 5 times thereafter, sources confided. On an expected line, mobile towers have been tracked down to in-and-around Dekiajuli township of Assam. And for atleast two weeks now, identified areas have been cordoned-off by Indian Army and Assam Police. Sources never mentioned about involvement of Arunachal police’s role. Though good news is yet to be delivered but one can’t stop thinking if GoAP is at all involved in the rescue operation. This is definitely not a briefing report about such high profile kidnapping case but to give a perspective on the need to introspect as indigenous tribals wherein kinship with guest at home has always been beyond blood. Response of GoAP is not as sharp as it was when a son of ex-CM was kidnapped allegedly by NDFB ultras, there has not been any update from GoAP on this particular case as it was in the case referred to. Civil society organisations are dead silent unlike last time when they flight hopped states to negotiate and pressurize Bodo Civil Society organisations. It is an open secret that this particular ultra faction is the same old group, leaders are the same here and there; and areas are the same known fortress of NDFB, Kamengbari too. Then and now, only two things have differed: he is a middle class civil servant and a non-Arunachalee with no political connections in Arunachal. As Arunachalees, we all wish for his safe release; and he has done no wrong to be separated from his loved ones for so long in unknown jungles with unknown people.
June 12, that is another significant day of this week. It shall mark the end of a month since kidnapping of Vilas Bardekar if not rescued. Vilas Bardekar, senior IFS from Maharashtra was kidnapped, allegedly by NDFB militants from Kamengbari area while he was on vacation. Perhaps, for the first time a high ranking official who is a guest of Arunachal has been kidnapped by the parasitic ultras from neighbouring state. Media houses waited with bated breathe for an update from GoAP on latest development in this high profile kidnapping case but it has been few days shy of a month without an update. Take this with best compliments from The Sentinel: Atleast for weeks, his mobile was active and, as per reliable sources, he spoke to his wife too. Within a fortnight, it was also learnt that a ransom call of atleast a crore was made to his family; since then, it has gone up atleast 5 times thereafter, sources confided. On an expected line, mobile towers have been tracked down to in-and-around Dekiajuli township of Assam. And for atleast two weeks now, identified areas have been cordoned-off by Indian Army and Assam Police. Sources never mentioned about involvement of Arunachal police’s role. Though good news is yet to be delivered but one can’t stop thinking if GoAP is at all involved in the rescue operation. This is definitely not a briefing report about such high profile kidnapping case but to give a perspective on the need to introspect as indigenous tribals wherein kinship with guest at home has always been beyond blood. Response of GoAP is not as sharp as it was when a son of ex-CM was kidnapped allegedly by NDFB ultras, there has not been any update from GoAP on this particular case as it was in the case referred to. Civil society organisations are dead silent unlike last time when they flight hopped states to negotiate and pressurize Bodo Civil Society organisations. It is an open secret that this particular ultra faction is the same old group, leaders are the same here and there; and areas are the same known fortress of NDFB, Kamengbari too. Then and now, only two things have differed: he is a middle class civil servant and a non-Arunachalee with no political connections in Arunachal. As Arunachalees, we all wish for his safe release; and he has done no wrong to be separated from his loved ones for so long in unknown jungles with unknown people.
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