Itanagar: The Chakma-Hajong Joint Action Committee( JAC) has opposed the recent statement made by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, about “relocating them outside the state to resolve the long-pending Chakma-Hajong issue.”
The apex umbrella body representing the collective voice of the Chakma and Hajong people reiterated that the Chakmas and Hajongs were already relocated to North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) 57 years ago and would prefer to live and die in Arunachal Pradesh.
The JAC in a statement on Tuesday said that it is against any “relocation” or the false and misleading premise that the Chakma and Hajong were given “temporary shelter” as refugees in Arunachal Pradesh.
The JAC reiterates that no doubt the Chakmas and Hajongs came as refugees in the 1960s, but once they were accepted and permanently settled with land, government jobs, trade licenses, ration cards, etc., and established their hearth and homes in NEFA, they were already recognized as de-facto citizens of India. The Supreme Court of India and various High Courts have time and again taken the position that those Chakmas/ Hajongs born in India between 1964 and 1 July 1987 are ‘citizens of India by birth’ and even the original migrants are deemed to be permanent residents of Arunachal Pradesh and do not require Inner Line Permit (ILP) as they were taken to NEFA by the Central government as part of its policy decision, it said.
The JAC has further called on the state authorities, CBOs, and public leaders to refrain from making any misleading and false statements that distort the facts of permanent rehabilitation of Chakmas and Hajongs in NEFA during the 1960s and instead create a congenial atmosphere to create a common pan-Arunachalee identity and culture based on the rule of law and unity in diversity for a vibrant and inclusive Arunachal Pradesh.
“We are open to any dialogue or discussion with the representatives of the Union and state governments and stakeholders concerned and pave the way for an authentic, win-win solution that recognizes and protects the rights of the Chakma Hajong tribals without diluting the rights of the other local tribes and other communities living within the state of Arunachal Pradesh,” the statement read.
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