[ Bini Yurom ]

ITANAGAR, 11 Jul: The Arunachal Frontier Tribal Front (AFTF) on Friday demanded that the state government refrain from issuing advertisement or conducting the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Combined Competitive Examination (APPSCCE) 2026 until the existing 80:20 recruitment ratio is scrapped and replaced with 100 per cent reservation for Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) candidates by making Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates and permanent resident certificates (PRCs) mandatory in all government recruitments.

Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club, AFTF chairman Tadak Nalo warned that the organisation would announce a bandh if the government advertises or proceeds with the APPSCCE 2026 before implementing its demand. He said the examination is expected to be held in September, while the advertisement is likely to be issued by the end of July or in the first week of August. According to him, issuing the notification before amending the recruitment policy would mean the examination would once again be conducted under the existing 80:20 recruitment ratio.

Nalo rejected the six-member committee constituted by the state government on 6 July, describing it as an “eye wash” and alleged that it was merely a “repetition of the committee formed in 2022.” He claimed that the earlier committee, constituted on 10 August, 2022 under the chairmanship of former education minister Taba Tedir to examine the same issue was given two months to submit its report but submitted it only on 9 January, 2024. He further alleged that, despite the submission of the report, no action was taken, and that when his team later approached the chief secretary’s office, they were informed that the report was not available with the authorities concerned.

 According to Nalo, the new committee has almost the same composition and has again been given a two-month deadline, raising doubts about the government’s intention to resolve the issue before the APPSCCE recruitment process begins. He argued that by the time the committee completes its work, the examination process would already be underway, making its recommendations ineffective.

Nalo also criticised the ICR administration for denying permission for the organisation’s proposed peaceful rally. He said the AFTF approached Deputy Commissioner Toko Babu on 2 July, seeking permission for a march from Akashdeep to IG Park on 11 July. According to him, the organisation was advised to obtain no objection certificates (NOCs) from the superintendent of police and the Itanagar Municipal Corporation, which it subsequently secured.

However, he alleged that permission was later denied, citing pressure from the chief secretary’s office and the chief minister’s office. He questioned why the organisation, which he said first raised the issue, was not consulted, and alleged that the denial amounted to suppressing a peaceful democratic protest.

Announcing the organisation’s next course of action, Nalo said the proposed 11 July rally has been deferred and replaced with a one-month ultimatum to the state government. He urged the government to implement the recommendations of the 2022 committee headed by Taba Tedir by making ST certificates and PRCs mandatory and abolishing the 80:20 recruitment ratio by 10 August 2026.

He described the deadline as an ultimatum “not only from the AFTF but from the indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh.”

Nalo reiterated that the APPSCCE 2026 advertisement should not be issued until the recruitment policy is amended. Referring to the 2021 APPSCCE, he claimed that the movement was triggered after a non-tribal candidate secured the top rank, which, according to him, exposed shortcomings in the existing recruitment policy.

Explaining the decision to defer the rally, Nalo alleged that the authorities are attempting to delay the movement. He said the AFTF has therefore decided to give the government one final opportunity to resolve the issue within the one-month deadline. He also thanked the organisations and individuals from different districts who extended support to the proposed rally.

Warning of intensified agitation, Nalo said that if the government fails to act by 10 August or proceeds with the APPSCCE 2026 advertisement under the existing recruitment policy, the AFTF would immediately issue a bandh call.

He added that the organisation would no longer seek permission from the deputy commissioner, the chief secretary or any other authority before launching its next phase of agitation, and urged the people of Arunachal to remain prepared for the movement.