On relocation Chakmas to other state, a protest staged to urge CM

Itanagar: The Chakma Development Foundation of India (CDFI) on Wednesday urged Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu not to perpetuate prejudice against the Chakmas and Hajongs by declaring them as refugees, who are in the state. I am not eligible for permanent settlement and hence suggest them transfer to other states of India.
Speaking at a training program to commemorate the National Panchayati Raj Day in Itanagar earlier this week, Khandu had announced that after resolving the Assam-Arunachal border dispute, he said the Chakma and Hajong problem will be solved by sending it to other states. Being refugees, the tribals cannot be permanently settled in the state, which is protected as a tribal state under the constitution.
“The Chakmas and Hajongs have been settled since 1964 by the competent authority of the Union of India, the then North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) and are citizens of India by birth born in NEFA/Arunachal Pradesh.

CDFI founder Suhas Chakma said, “No state or UT is empowered in the Constitution to declare us non-resident and therefore forcefully remove us from its territorial jurisdiction.”
He said that most of those who migrated during 1964-1969 are now dead, and those who are alive cannot be removed from the state as the Supreme Court held in 1996 in the case of NHRC vs State of Arunachal Pradesh I gave in my decision.

“There is no provision in the Constitution to define Arunachal Pradesh or any other state as a tribal state, and in fact, Article 371(h) of the Constitution confers exclusive responsibility and powers only on the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh.
“Therefore, Chakma and Hajong are refugees, Arunachal Pradesh is a tribal state protected by the Constitution, etc. are wrong and perpetuate prejudices against only a section of Indian citizens,” Suhas Chakma said in the statement.
He warned the state government, saying, “If Arunachal Pradesh expects to take a few thousand Chakmas and Hajongs from other states, Arunachal will be asked to exclude Assam and other states like NRC.” 1.9 million people in Tripura, considering that the population density in Arunachal Pradesh in 2022 was 17 persons per square kilometer compared to the national average of 431 persons per square kilometer.
Also, considering China’s claim on Arunachal Pradesh, including renaming Indian territories, the state has a very low population density, resettling people from other parts of India to Arunachal Pradesh to counter China’s threats. can be demanded. is born in the near future, the statement said.

He added, “Finally, many groups, including ex-Assam Rifles, ex-East Pakistan refugees, etc., joined the then NEFA after the Indo-China War of 1962 to deal with the security threat posed by China. I was settled.”
CDFI said that Chief Minister Khandu in his address also said that whenever he visits East Arunachal and meets the Chakmas, he is saddened to see that they do not have any facilities. , housing conditions are poor and many poor dodge.

Suhas Chakma said that the Chief Minister should realize that the state of Arunachal Pradesh has created a very poor economic condition and extreme poverty by depriving the Chakmas and Hajongs of all rights and facilities for the last 60 years.
He added that “mere expression of regret is not enough, the Chief Minister himself must ensure implementation of Sustainable Development Goals in Chakma and Hajong settlements if such extreme poverty is to be eradicated”.

Arunachal Pradesh has about 65,000 tribals belonging to the Chakma and Hajong communities who fled from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and in 1964 the central government in the then North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) established security after the 1962 Indian Settled to expand. — The China War.