A delegation of Mon Autonomous Region Demand Committee (MARDC) led by Arunachal Pradesh Tourism Minister Pema Khandu today met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi to press the decades-old demand for creation of Mon Autonomous Council (MAC), under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
The delegation, mostly consisting of legislators of the Tawang and West Kameng districts, highlighted in details the history of people’s demand for MAC from 2003 till date in a chronological order, a communique issued by the Arunachal Pradesh government here said.
The meeting was also attended by Union MoS for Home Kiren Rijiju, Union Home Secretary L C Goyal and Union Home Joint Secretary Shambu Singh.
Khandu spoke at length to justify the need to create an autonomous council for the twin districts of the state.
Last year, the Centre had constituted a four member high level committee to deliberate on the long pending demand of the people of Mon-region for an autonomous council.
The committee headed by Shambu Singh visited Tawang on February 25 last year and met the members of MARDC and interacted with the general public to prepare and submit a report to Home Ministry for further decision making.
However, no development had taken place since then.
Khandu urged the Home Minister to take up the pending demand at the earliest and expressed confidence in the Narendra Modi-led government for a positive decision.
The issue was discussed in detail by the delegates with Rajnath Singh, Rijiju and the Home Secretary, the communique said.
The Home Minister instructed the members of MARDC to move the file through Union Home Secretary L C Goyal for the government’s decision.
Arunachal Deputy Speaker T N Thondok, Parliamentary Secretary Phurpa Tsering also participated in the discussion.
Parliamentary secretary Khumsi Sidisow, MLAs Tsering Tashi and Japu Deru, Department of Karmik and Adhyatmik Affairs (DoKA) Chairman Jambey Wangdi were also present, the communique added.
—PTI