The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) has strongly condemned a recent statement by Minister Nyato Dukam, chairman of the committee examining the abolition of the 80:20 reservation ratio, calling his remarks immature and irresponsible. The union has demanded that Dukam clarify his statement and apologize to the union and the people of the state within 12 hours. The controversy began when Dukam cautioned that the state’s 80:20 job reservation policy could face legal hurdles if challenged in court, amid growing demands from various organizations to scrap the provision reserving 20 percent of jobs for non-APST candidates.
He warned that a legal challenge could result from the existing reservation being scrapped altogether, and questioned who would then be held responsible for the fallout. Reacting sharply, the AAPSU said the statement was deeply immature and unbecoming of a minister who himself chairs the committee tasked with examining the issue. The union said that as chairman of the committee, Dukam is expected to maintain neutrality, uphold the integrity of the process, and allow consultations with all stakeholders before expressing any opinion in public.
The AAPSU also noted that Dukam’s press statement coincided with the AAPSU’s own press statement on the same day, an overlap which it said gave the impression of a hostile attitude towards the issue, and raised concerns over the impartiality expected of the committee’s chairman. The union categorically rejected the minister’s apprehension, asserting that reservation policy for state government recruitment is a state subject, exercised under Articles 15 (4) and 16 (4) of the Constitution of India. AAPSU president Meje Taku said it was unfortunate to hear such a statement from a sitting minister who also chairs the committee examining the issue.
He added that the union expects the chairman of the committee to conduct himself with the seriousness and legal rigour the issue demands, rather than make public statements that undermine the very process he has been entrusted to lead. The AAPSU has further called upon the state government to ensure that the committee proceeds with due diligence and full seriousness, and reiterated that abolition of the 80:20 ratio remains the union’s topmost and non-negotiable priority. AAPSU president Meje Taku, reacting to the development, said it was unfortunate to hear such a statement from a sitting minister who also chairs the committee examining the issue.
“Instead of offering clarity, leadership, and legal confidence to the process, the minister has chosen to spread apprehension. Our neighbouring states have exercised near-identical reservation policies for decades, and no court has struck them down. If they can do it, so can we.
The abolition of the 80:20 ratio is a matter squarely within the powers of the state government, and no one should be allowed to create doubt about that for political convenience,” Taku said, adding that the minister appeared unable to feel the gravity of the issue and the pulse of the people. He further said the union expects the chairman of the committee to conduct himself with the seriousness and legal rigour the issue demands, rather than make public statements that undermine the very process he has been entrusted to lead, adding that the AAPSU would not allow fear-mongering to derail what it called a legitimate and constitutionally sound demand of the state’s indigenous people. Taku added that, in the interest of fair and meaningful dialogue, Dukam should clarify his statement and apologize to the AAPSU and the people of the state within 12 hours over remarks that have caused hurt, misunderstanding, and demoralisation among stakeholders.
“The aspirations and concerns of the indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh deserve respectful consideration, free from fear, confusion, or political posturing,” he said.
