Khandu voices people's concern to refugees

GUWAHATI: Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu reiterated the concerns of the people of Arunachal Pradesh on the vexed issue of granting citizenship to Chakma and Hajong refugees in the state.

In a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Khandu said the matter is of deep emotional concern and that the state is not ready to accept any infringement of the Constitutional protection bestowed on the tribals of the state.

Chief Minister pointed that Arunachal Pradesh with its unique history is governed by a special Act namely the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, which prescribes a line to be called the “Inner Line”. Section 2 of which prohibits all citizens of India or any class of such citizens from going beyond such line without a pass issued under the hand and seal of the CEO of such district or such officer authorised to such function.

“Further, Section 7 of the Regulation reads as, “It shall not be lawful for any person, not being a native of the district comprised in the preamble of this regulation, to acquire any interest in land or the product of land beyond the said “Inner Line”….,” Khandu cited.

He added that Arunachal Pradesh is a predominantly tribal state and the Constitution of India gives special protection rights to the people of the State. These provisions were legislated with the singular objective to protect the tribes of the state from the onslaught of alien culture and overwhelming influx of non-Arunachalees in the State.

“Therefore, as mentioned by me in our meeting recently, I reiterate that the people of my State are not ready to accept any infringement on the Constitutional protection bestowed on the tribals of Arunachal Pradesh and want to ensure that the ethnic composition and the special rights enjoyed by the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh are safeguarded at all cost,” Khandu said in the letter.

He sought the Home Minister’s support in protecting the tribal rights and securing the sanctity of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Chakma are an ethnic group who fled in 1960s to northeastern India from former East Pakistan.

Union minister of state for Home, Kiren Rijiju has said the Centre will urge the Supreme Court to modify its order of granting citizenship to Chakma-Hajong refugees so that rights of indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh are not diluted.

He added that there is no decision of the Government of India to grant citizenship. It is the order of the Supreme Court.

The move to grant citizenship to Chakma-Hajong refugees has evoked sharp reaction in Arunachal and several organisations are resisting the same.