ITANAGAR, 22 Jul: The state government has constituted a committee to identify a suitable plot of land within Itanagar for holding democratic protests and dharnas, acting on a demand raised by the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) for a designated protest ground in the capital.

As per a circular issued by the Itanagar Capital Region deputy commissioner, the committee has been constituted for identification of a suitable site for holding such protests by any individual, organisation, or group.

The committee, chaired by ADC Rajib Chiduni, comprises the assistant commissioner, Itanagar, a representative of the AAPSU, the Nirjuli PWD highway division executive engineer, the Itanagar CD-A PWD executive engineer, the DFO/RFO (SF), Itanagar, and the DLRSO, Itanagar, who will serve as member secretary.

The AAPSU welcomed the constitution of the committee, thanking the government for the initiative. The union said that “the identification of a designated protest ground in Itanagar was a long-pending and much-needed development for the people of the state, who have for years lacked a fixed, recognised space to exercise their democratic right to peaceful protest and dharna.”

The AAPSU said that it looks forward to actively participating in the committee’s deliberations, and that it would work constructively with the administration to ensure that a suitable and accessible site is identified at the earliest, so that citizens and organisations across the state have a permanent and dignified space to voice their concerns through democratic means.