Roads blocked. Markets shuttered. And on a day meant for celebration, Lekang sent a very different message to Itanagar.
Just hours after the country marked its 79th Independence Day, the Lekang circle in Arunachal Pradesh’s Namsai district ground to a halt. An indefinite bandh — called by a coalition of community-based organisations, student unions, and NGOs — kicked off at 5 AM on August 14, with protesters blocking three major entry points: Banka Bridge, Bordumsa Gate, and Dirak Gate. The trigger? A state cabinet decision that protesters say could slam the door on government jobs for thousands of genuine residents.
What Changed — And Why It Matters
The Arunachal Pradesh cabinet recently introduced uniform eligibility criteria for government recruitment, making permanent residence, APST (Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe) or indigenous status, and proficiency in at least one indigenous tribal language mandatory for all applicants. These norms are set to be incorporated by the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission and the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board into future direct recruitment for Group A, B, and C posts. On paper, it sounds like a policy to protect tribal identity. On the ground in Lekang, it feels like a threat.
“This Is Unconstitutional” — Protesters Push Back
Horojit Morang, a representative of the protesting organisations, described the cabinet decision as “unconstitutional” and warned that it could expose the state’s existing reservation framework to legal challenges — specifically referencing the Supreme Court’s 1992 Indra Sawhney judgment, under which judicial intervention could potentially unsettle the state’s reservation system. The current arrangement reserves 80 per cent of government vacancies for APST candidates and 20 per cent for non-APST aspirants. Protesters in Lekang fear this balance — and their place within it — is now at serious risk. What makes the situation uniquely complicated is that many of those likely to be affected are not outsiders. Protesters claim several residents hold historical land survey records dating back to 1968 and possess valid domicile and resident certificates, making them indigenous inhabitants of Lekang in every practical sense.
Memorandum Filed, But No Relief Yet
On August 12 — two days before the bandh — the protesting organisations had already submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Pema Khandu, urging the government and the Joint High-Powered Committee to examine historical records and domicile status before finalising the recruitment policy. They want clarity. They want assurance. And they want it before the rules take effect. Morang was measured but firm: “We will not take the matter to court for now. Our demand is that reservation and employment protection must be ensured for the people of Lekang. If this is not done, we will take democratic steps.”
Calm for Now, Talks Underway
Lekang Assistant Commissioner Tojum Ete confirmed the bandh was ongoing but peaceful, with police and paramilitary forces patrolling the area. By Friday evening, Lekang MLA Likha Soni and Namsai Deputy Commissioner Lobsang Tsering were scheduled to hold discussions with representatives of the protesting organisations in an attempt to defuse the situation.
The willingness to talk is encouraging. But for the people of Lekang, a conversation is not enough — they need a guarantee that decades of roots in this land will count for something when the next government job notification goes out.
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