Editor,

The ongoing unrest in Arunachal Pradesh, fuelled by the Inner Line Permit (ILP) issue, offers a troubling glimpse into how genuine concerns of the youths can be hijacked for narrow political ends.

What began as demands around protected status has rapidly morphed into a vehicle for destabilising the incumbent government, mirroring the disruptive Gen Z movement witnessed in Nepal. This sets a dangerous precedent for India’s Northeast, where fragile social equilibrium can easily unravel.

Mass rallies, vandalism of public properties, and street confrontations are being packaged as acts of ‘justice’. Such tactics do little to resolve complex administrative and demographic challenges. Instead, they erode public infrastructure, strain law and order, and ultimately harm the very communities they claim to represent. The scenes emerging from Arunachal are particularly alarming. If left unchecked, this wave of misdirected anger risks spiralling into something far more damaging, with long-term consequences for peace and development in the state.

There is little doubt that many young participants are acting out of sincere concern for their land and identity. Yet, turning a serious policy matter like ILP into partisan political theatre serves no one, except those seeking to weaken democratic institutions.

The youths of Arunachal, and indeed the entire Northeast, must recognise a fundamental truth: this is their state. Its future rests in their hands. Destructive agitation might yield fleeting headlines, but lasting progress demands collaboration, not confrontation. Rather than burning down what exists, the energy and idealism of the young generation should be channelled towards working with the government to devise practical, sustainable solutions.

It is out of deep love for Arunachal that I write this letter. Having spent 12 years in the state and made many cherished friends – some are like my family there – I cannot remain silent as I see its bright future being put at risk. Dialogue, reasoned negotiation, and policy innovation are the only paths that build. Destruction, however loud, only diminishes. The time has come for Arunachal’s youths to become the architects of their own destiny.

Anil Thapa,
Shillong,
Meghalaya