Staff Reporter

ITANAGAR, 4 Oct: The Siang Indigenous Farmers' Forum (SIFF) has decided not to accept the invitation extended by Chief Minister Pema Khandu for a meeting in Pasighat on 5 October.

The decision was taken at a meeting held on Sunday in Geku in the presence of villagers. Instead, the organisation has suggested holding the meeting after 11 October.

The decision comes after a massive show of opposition to the pre-feasibility report study of the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) during Chief Minister Pema Khandu's recent visit to the Upper Siang and Siang districts.

Following the opposition, the government wrote to the SIFF, inviting 15 delegates of the forum for a meeting in Pasighat in East Siang.

The Chief Minister invited the delegates "for important discussions on vital issues in the presence of MP and legislators of the Adi community." The meeting was scheduled to be held at Pasighat on 5 October in the afternoon, according to the letter.