Itanagar: The All Nyishi Youth Association (ANYA) has deferred its 48-hour Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) bandh on Tuesday after 21 of its detained members were released by the district administration on Monday.
ANYA president Byabang Joram had announced the bandh on Saturday after several members of the association including its general secretary and vice president were detained by the police during and after the 36-hour bandh enforced by the organization from January 12-14.
Speaking to media persons this evening, Joram stated that “the bandh has only been deferred and not called off and the association’s movement against the state government would continue.”
“We are deferring tomorrow’s bandh because many of our members are yet to be released and the deputy commissioner has assured us that they will be done so by tomorrow. We understand that this process takes time hence we are deferring the 48-hour bandh for now,” he said.
Joram said that the executive members of the association will sit for a meeting soon and decide the next course of action with regards to their movement.
He also denied any political involvement or the agitation being a communal one and said that their movement was for the interest of the public of the entire state and not for themselves or a particular community.
Further responding to the claims made by the state police of goons and anti-social elements being hired from outside to create law and order problems in the ICR during the 36-hour capital bandh from January 12-14, Joram said that he had no idea about it.
“I have never or shall ever encourage such things. I am an Arunachalee and I would never want an outsider to destroy my state. If you still have any doubts, I and my team are open to an investigation,” he said.
Joram said the police should instead hand over those individuals arrested with arms and weapons during the bandh to his association so that they can take action against them.
The ANYA had enforced a 36-hour bandh from January 12-14 in the ICR demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Pema Khandu while alleging several corruption charges against the chief minister.
The ICR consists of Itanagar, the state capital, Naharlagun, Nirjuli and Banderdewa.
Several other allegations have also been leveled against the chief minister by the union which has been termed “baseless” by the state government.
