HT Bureau
NAMSAI, June 17: Amid growing concerns over demographic changes and legal irregularities, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), the apex students’ body of the state, spearheaded a massive referendum rally in the capital city of Itanagar on Monday. The rally, which saw participation from several tribal organizations, student unions, and civil society groups, called for the immediate deportation of Chakma and Hajong settlers and other illegal immigrants residing in Arunachal Pradesh.
Despite unfavorable weather conditions, a large number of protesters marched from Akashdeep to the Civil Secretariat, raising slogans to safeguard the indigenous identity, demographic stability, and constitutional rights of Scheduled Tribes in the state. The rally was one of the largest public mobilizations witnessed in recent times.
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AAPSU has long maintained that the continued settlement of Chakmas, Hajongs, and other undocumented migrants poses a direct threat to the indigenous population of Arunachal Pradesh, violating the provisions of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) of 1873, which protects tribal rights over land and local governance.
AAPSU President Dozi Tana Tara, while addressing the media, said, “We are not against any community or humanity as a whole. But the people of Arunachal Pradesh have constitutional and historical rights that cannot be overlooked. The unchecked influx of illegal immigrants is a matter of grave concern. It’s time the central government takes decisive action.”
He further accused state authorities of failing to verify and filter illegal entries, which has led to an increasing number of outsiders being added to electoral rolls — a development he called “a betrayal of the indigenous people of the region.”
During the rally, a 12-point memorandum was submitted to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs through the Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh. The memorandum demanded the identification and deportation of all illegal immigrants, re-verification of voter lists, and strict implementation of the BEFR, 1873.
The memorandum also supported the recent directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Arunachal state government to begin the process of identifying and deporting illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the region. AAPSU welcomed this move but emphasized the need for immediate implementation.
Student leaders from various districts and tribes echoed the sentiment, warning that continued inaction would lead to cultural erosion, economic imbalance, and political instability in the region. Various community-based organizations (CBOs) and district students’ unions (DSUs) have pledged to stand united with AAPSU until the demands are met.
