Itanagar, Nov. 6 -- The Siang Indigenous Farmers' Forum (SIFF) has declined the Arunachal Pradesh government's invitation for talks on the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), demanding the release of all detainees and withdrawal of armed forces before any dialogue can take place.

In a letter dated November 3, the Chief Minister's Office invited SIFF representatives to meet in Itanagar between November 5 and 7 to discuss issues related to the proposed project.

The letter, addressed to the SIFF president, stated that Chief Minister Pema Khandu had reiterated his invitation for a meeting at his office in Niti Vihar on a mutually convenient date during the proposed period.

The Chief Minister had earlier invited the organisati...