AAPSU Defends ILP System Against TMPK's Opposition

AAPSU's Firm Stance on ILP System

Itanagar, June 2: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) has categorically dismissed the objections raised by the Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) regarding the inner line permit (ILP) system for the Mising community in Arunachal Pradesh. AAPSU asserts that the ILP serves as a crucial constitutional and legal protection applicable to all non-Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (non-APST) individuals.

In response to TMPK's recent remarks, AAPSU president Meje Taku stated on Monday that while the union acknowledges the historical and cultural connections between the Mising community and various indigenous tribes in Arunachal Pradesh, these ties do not justify exemptions from the legal protections designed to safeguard the state's indigenous population.

“The ILP is not merely a matter of sentiment or community preference; it is a constitutional safeguard for the indigenous peoples of Arunachal Pradesh. No community, regardless of its historical connections or ethnolinguistic relationships, can claim exemption from a law that applies uniformly to all non-APST individuals entering and residing in the state,” Taku emphasized.

AAPSU highlighted that the ILP system is not an arbitrary administrative measure but is grounded in a solid framework of constitutional and statutory provisions, including the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873, which underpins the permit system.

The union also referenced Article 371(H) of the Constitution, which assigns special responsibilities to the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh concerning law and order, thereby reinforcing the state’s unique constitutional protections. “These provisions collectively create a protective framework that AAPSU regards as sacred and indivisible,” Taku added.

While TMPK has pointed to the Mising community's ethnolinguistic ties to tribes like the Adi, Nyishi, Galo, Apatani, and Tagin, as well as their historical presence in regions such as East Siang, Lower Siang, Namsai, and Papum Pare, AAPSU made a clear distinction between historical presence and legal status.

“We acknowledge the historical and cultural connections between the Mising people and the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. These connections deserve recognition and respect. However, the legal framework is explicit – any individual who is not an APST must obtain an inner line permit to enter and reside in the state,” Taku reiterated.

The AAPSU president urged individuals and organizations from both sides to practice restraint and responsibility when discussing sensitive matters related to identity and community rights.

He warned against making statements that could provoke public sentiment or disrupt the longstanding harmony among communities.

AAPSU further cautioned that granting ILP exemptions based on historical or ethnolinguistic grounds could create a precedent with significant consequences, potentially undermining the fundamental purpose of the permit system.

“If historical connections become the basis for exemptions, it would weaken a protective mechanism that has been in place for over 150 years and is essential for safeguarding the interests of the indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh,” Taku stated.

Reiterating that their stance is not against the Mising community, AAPSU acknowledged the Misings as a proud indigenous group with a rich cultural legacy.

The union expressed hope that all parties would engage constructively within the existing legal framework and urged the state government to ensure strict, impartial, and uniform enforcement of the ILP system throughout Arunachal Pradesh.