Guwahati:
Resurfacing of China’s claim over Arunachal territory, boundary row with Assam, installation of a new Congress government, Nido Tania death and breakdown in the law and order situation were some of the issues that hogged limelight in Arunachal Pradesh during 2014.
Early this year, China had in its map depicted Arunachal Pradesh and South China Sea as its territory, which evoked strong resentment in the state.
The apex students’ body All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) launched several protest rallies in the state as well as in the national capital protesting Beijing’s “expansionist attitude”.
In July, Students’ Union Movement of Arunachal (SUMA) staged a protest rally against China’s depiction of Arunachal in its map as its own.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on October 14 last announced Centre’s plan to construct a 2000-km -long road along the international border from Mago-Thingbu in Tawang to Vijaynagar in Changlang district to match China’s road infrastructure across the McMahon Line, which sparked strong protest from Beijing.
Chief Minister Nabam Tuki on November 17 last during his visit to California-based Google Headquarters raised the issue of wrong depiction of his state in Google Maps and sought corrective measures.
The boundary row with neighbouring Assam was another issue which grabbed headlines during the year.
Unauthorised eviction drive launched by Assam Police and forest personnel in Arunachal’s territory were reported on several occasions during the year, particularly at Tarasso area under Papum Pare district.
On January 29, miscreants gunned down 15 CPI (ML) activists at Chaoldhowa in the Assam-Arunachal boundary. Eight others were also injured in the incident.
Several Assam-based organisations imposed an economic blockade along the NH-52 from February 4 for several days as a fallout of the Chaoldhowa incident which, triggered crisis of essential commodities.
The death of Arunachalee youth Tania in the national capital on January 30 evoked strong protests in the state forcing the assembly to pass a resolution to impress upon the Centre for a strong anti-racial act.
