Itanagar, August 10, 2024 — The Adiland & Upright People’s Organization (AUPO) has come out in strong support of Vijay Taram, General Secretary of the Adi Baané Kébang (ABK) and State Information Commissioner, amid growing calls for his removal. The organization has condemned recent actions against Taram, describing them as baseless and harmful to local entrepreneurship efforts.
The controversy began when the President of the Nyishi Elite Society (NES) sent a letter to the President of ABK, demanding disciplinary action against Taram within a week. This was followed by a petition from the All Nyishi Youth Association (ANYA) to the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, seeking Taram’s termination from his post. Central to the dispute is the Charter of Demand No. 1, which advocates for the repeal of the District-based Entrepreneur Act of 2015—a legislation that has been pivotal in fostering entrepreneurship within the Adi community.
AUPO leaders, including President James Badu and General Secretary Zingge Moyong, have criticized these demands as ill-informed and detrimental to the progress made under the Act. They emphasized that the legislation has been crucial in empowering Adi entrepreneurs and warned that repealing it would undo significant achievements.
In response to the criticism, Vijay Taram issued a statement urging for a reconsideration of the demand, maintaining a respectful and composed stance. AUPO argues that Taram’s advocacy for the Adi community’s interests is a key part of his responsibilities as an ABK leader, and that his actions are aligned with his duty to protect the community’s welfare.
AUPO expressed disappointment over NES’s interpretation of Taram’s statement, asserting that it was incorrectly perceived as a personal opinion rather than an official stance of the ABK. They criticized the actions of NES and ANYA as premature and unwarranted, calling for a more mature and thoughtful approach to the issue.
Reaffirming their unwavering support for Taram, AUPO leaders urged all stakeholders to reconsider the push to repeal the District-based Entrepreneur Act of 2015. They stressed the importance of the Act in promoting local entrepreneurship and highlighted the potential negative consequences of the ongoing dispute for the community’s overall development.