The Congress High Command needs to take some urgent steps to quell dissidence within ruling Congress in Arunachal Pradesh, where public campaign against the incumbent Chief Minister Jarbom Gamlin has triggered street clashes and created law and order problem besides creating tension between different tribes.
There has been reports of exodus of common people from different tribes from Papum Pare district, where the state capital Itanagar is located, dominated by Nyishi community that has launched a tirade against Gamlin demanding his ouster on charges of his failure to improve the deteriorating law and order situation.
The campaign is backed by some legislators and ministers from the community.
The law and order situation in state has been a cause for concern of late with insurgent groups from Nagaland and Assam creating trouble in certain parts of the state by indulging in extortion, abduction and intimidation.
Tension was running high in state capital Itanagar, following unprecedented street clashes that took place earlier in the week leaving scores injured and a large number of vehicles damaged, while police was forced to tear gas shelling and baton charge to normalize matters.
Some people from communities other than Nyishi are leaving the area in hordes, fearing trouble.
It all started when an organisation called Nyishi Coordination Committee (NCC) tried to organise a rally in Itanagar to facilitate Gamlin an opportunity to clear in public the allegation against him of indulging in divisive politics.
However, the rally coincided with a bandh called by Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous People's Union against deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Mayhem broke loose on the streets when bandh enforcers clashed with rally supporters and participants.
Shaken by the group clashes and violence taking place on the streets of Itanagar, Gamlin has called upon people of all communities of the state to remain calm.
"We must collectively tackle these issues on the basis of dialogue and consensus. Violence has to be rejected at all costs," he said calling for cooperation from all civil society organisations to maintain law and order.
