Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu defended the detention of protestors opposing the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project. Police moved against demonstrators who disrupted order in the Siang belt. The state demands compliance with the law.
Khandu addressed the media on October 11. He claimed villagers misunderstand the project status. The work currently sits at the pre-feasibility report stage. No memorandums of understanding exist yet. He noted that the government follows identical procedures for all hydropower projects in the region. Officials will pursue agreements only after the pre-feasibility phase ends.
The state government wants to talk. Khandu invited groups like the AbK and the All Siang Youth Union to a dialogue. He wants to resolve the ongoing friction between the public and the state. Still, he drew a hard line on public conduct. During his address, he stated, "Violence will not be tolerated" in the name of protest. Any person breaking the law will face consequences regardless of their status.
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