Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bosiram Siram met Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi at his New Delhi residence on Thursday, pressing for urgent action on critical state issues, including constitutional protections under Article 371(H), the controversial Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), and the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). The meeting underscores Congress’s push to address indigenous rights and sustainable development in Arunachal Pradesh.

Siram called for amending Article 371(H) of the Arunachal Pradesh Statehood Act, 1987, to align it with Article 371(A) for Nagaland and Article 371(G) for Mizoram, which grant greater control over land and resources to their respective states. “Unlike Nagaland and Mizoram, Arunachal lacks constitutional safeguards for indigenous ownership of land, water, and forests,” Siram said, noting that the state holds only 10% equity in hydropower, mining, and oil projects, with 90% controlled by the Centre and developers. He urged Gandhi to advocate for a “fair restructuring” to empower tribal communities economically, a demand Gandhi promised to pursue seriously.

The proposed 11,000 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, a 300-meter-high dam on the Siang River, sparked heated discussion. Siram highlighted fierce opposition from the Adi and other indigenous tribes, citing the potential displacement of over 1.5 lakh people across 27 villages in Upper Siang and downstream Assam. The project threatens ancestral lands, cultural sites like Kekar Monying, and biodiversity-rich forests, while risking ecological disaster in seismic Zone-V, prone to landslides and earthquakes.

Alleging violations of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Siram criticized the lack of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), with reports of forced surveys and armed intimidation. Gandhi termed the issue a “national concern,” assuring a thorough evaluation, while Siram clarified Congress supports development but opposes “mega-dams of abnormal height” that endanger communities.

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Siram also reiterated the APCC’s support for scrapping the market-linked New Pension Scheme (NPS), advocating for the OPS to ensure fixed pensions for government employees. He echoed the Confederation of Service Associations of Arunachal Pradesh (CoSAAP)’s demands, noting the NPS’s uncertainty undermines retirement security. Gandhi, who previously promised OPS restoration in Congress-ruled states like Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, acknowledged the issue’s importance.

The meeting follows Siram’s proactive engagement with state issues, including his July 24 visit to fire victims in Kaying village and his July 29 appeal for drought relief in the Siang belt, where deficit rainfall of -229 mm threatens paddy cultivation. Siram’s appointment as APCC chief in June 2025, succeeding Nabam Tuki, has energized Congress’s outreach, evidenced by over 1,000 NCP members joining INC in Pasighat West in February.

As Arunachal grapples with these challenges, Siram’s dialogue with Gandhi signals Congress’s intent to challenge the BJP-led state government’s policies, particularly on tribal rights and employee welfare, ahead of upcoming elections. Gandhi’s assurances offer hope for advocacy at the national level, with Siram vowing to monitor progress closely to ensure justice for Arunachal’s indigenous communities and workers.

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