Itanagar: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) on Wednesday said that the process of relocating Chakma and Hajong refugees to Assam has been under discussion since the last few years, awaiting official communication.
The development was confirmed by AAPSU vice-president (protocol) Nabam Gandhi and former AAPSU leaders Tobom Dai and Meje Taku.
Responding to queries from NewsFy about Union Minister Kiren Rijiju’s recent statement regarding the government’s efforts on the issue, the AAPSU leaders reiterated the ongoing discussions and appealed to the Chakma and Hajong communities to acknowledge the situation.
Gandhi said the population of Chakma and Hajong communities has increased to 2 lakhs already since they migrated to Arunachal while the state’s population is approximately 9 lakhs.
“At this rate, the native population could become a minority in the future and may even have to seek funds from UNESCO,” Gandhi said, while calling upon the Chakma and Hajong communities to consider accepting the provisions offered to them under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Former AAPSU general secretary Tobom Dai also mentioned the ongoing discussions about relocating the Chakma and Hajongs from Arunachal Pradesh to Assam.
“Although no official communication has been received yet, now that the union minister has confirmed it, they should accept the reality,” Dai stated.
Dai emphasized the importance for the communities to seriously consider the offer of citizenship under the CAA provided by the Central government, as this could be their final opportunity, given that neither the AAPSU nor the people of Arunachal Pradesh would accept them any longer.
Chakma Students’ Reaction:
Reacting to the statement of Rijiju, Arunachal Pradesh Chakma Students’ Union (AAPSU) president Drishya Muni Chakma in a video message deemed the union minister’s statement as “disturbing for Chakma & Hajong communities”.
Chakma also claimed that the Chakma and Hajongs who came before 2014 would qualify to get citizenship in Arunachal according to the CAA.
Statement slammed:
Slamming Drishya Muni’s statement, former AAPSU vice-president Taku said the “so called Chakma student leader should understand that Arunachal does not come under the purview of the CAA and the same was cemented when a delegation met the then Union Home Minister Amit Shah in November 30, 2019, in New Delhi.”
The delegation of Team Arunachal headed by Chief Minister Pema Khandu comprised of cabinet ministers, members of AITF, NES, AAPSU, NESO and all the political parties of the state.
“The home minister had then clearly stated and assured the delegation that Arunachal would not come under the purview of CAA which clearly means the Chakma and Hajongs will not get citizenship in Arunachal,” Taku said.
Taku further asked the Chakma leader to stop making unnecessary statements and hurdles and accept the citizenship process under CAA.
“The Chakma and Hajongs should instead be grateful to the people of Arunachal who have let them live in our land for decades. They should also thank the state and Central government as well as union minister Rijiju for coming out with a solution for them,” Taku said.
Rijiu while addressing a press conference here on Wednesday had stated that the Central government had urged the Assam government to identify an appropriate location for the relocation of the Chakma and Hajongs who are presently settled in Arunachal.
The union minister had also stated that Chakma and Hajongs would get Indian citizenship under the CAA but not be allowed to stay in Arunachal as the state does not come under the purview of the Act.
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