Monday Musing

[ Bengia Ajum ]

The bandh culture is back with a vengeance in the state, with the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) in particular bearing the brunt. Just as everyone thought the era of bandhs was over and Arunachal, especially the ICR, was emerging as a cosmopolitan city ready to shine, two bandhs within a span of a few days have shocked the state.

With every bandh call, the fear of violence and a repeat of the anti-PRC situation worries every citizen of the ICR. The wounds of the 2019 anti-PRC riots, which shook the state, have still not fully healed. Many people lost their businesses forever; lives were lost, and many suffered permanent disabilities due to the violence. Some of those who called the bandh are still fighting legal battles in court.

The first bandh, called by the Arunachal ST Bachao Andolan, almost turned into an anti-PRC-like situation. However, to their credit, leaders of the ST Bachao Andolan, such as its chairman Sol Dodum, personally went to the ground to control the mob, and the situation was brought under control.

The second bandh was called by the Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous Youth Organisation (APIYO) on 28 May, stating that they wanted to stop the celebration of Bakri-Eid by illegal immigrants in illegal mosques. This was truly unfortunate. The organisation should understand that not all Muslims living in the Itanagar Capital Region are illegal immigrants. The majority are Indian citizens living here with valid ILPs. Calling a bandh just to stop Muslims from celebrating a festival is dangerous and sets a precedent others could follow in the future.

The people of Arunachal should also understand that the repercussions of such actions could be felt across the globe. Arunachali students and citizens living in Muslim-dominated areas may face threats or backlash. In this era of social media, even a small incident can be blown out of proportion. People should stop behaving like a frog in a well. Even though the APIYO said it is against illegal immigrants, the impression going out is that they are against all Muslims by deciding to call a bandh on a religious festival. This is wrong, as the majority of Arunachalis are secular and welcome people of every faith, region, and state.

Also, under the guise of raising ‘genuine issues’, various organisations in the state should stop using the ICR as a place to test their strength and influence by calling frequent bandhs. The ICR is becoming like the bell of a temple, anyone can come and strike it. This needs to end, and the law of the land should prevail. The bandh culture will only harm the image of the state and the interests of the poor. For the rich and those in government service, a bandh is an opportunity to enjoy time with their families. But daily wage earners do not have that luxury. They are the worst affected and silently suffer. They often endure it without complaint, thinking it is being done in the best interest of the state. Also, both the APIYO and the Arunachal ST Bachao Andolan constantly speak about threats from outsiders. Every Arunachali shares the worry, but we also need to introspect in this regard. Outsiders are coming back to Arunachal because they see an opportunity to work. Our own tribal youths are not willing to take up many of the jobs that are filled by outsiders. Therefore, we need to look into this aspect too.

If Arunachal, particularly the ICR, is to emerge as a major destination for tourists and investment, the bandh culture has to end. There are many democratic methods to fight for one’s rights if the government does not heed demands. Arunachal is not ready for another anti-PRC-like riot, and organisations calling bandhs in the ICR should remember this. On its part, the government also should be proactive and stop waiting for organisations to call bandhs before acting on their demands.