Itanagar: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Chakma-Hajong CBOs has strongly opposed the recent statement by Chief Minister Pema Khandu about resolving the long-pending Chakma-Hajong issue by relocating them outside the state of Arunachal Pradesh.
The JAC as the apex umbrella body representing the collective voice of the Chakma and Hajong people reiterated that the Chakmas and Hajongs were already relocated to NEFA (North East Frontier Agency) 57 years ago and that they “would prefer to live and die in Arunachal Pradesh”.
Mention may be made that Chief Minister Pema Khandu while speaking at the inauguration of three-day training for trainers (ToT) program commemorating the National Panchayati Raj Day at Itanagar on Monday stated that after resolving Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary dispute, he will resolve the Chakma-Hajong problem by distributing them in different States of India as the Chakmas and Hajongs being refugees cannot be permanently settled in the state, which is protected as a tribal State under the Constitution.
“While the government’s intent to permanently resolve the long-pending Chakma-Hajong issue is laudable”, the JAC, in a statement on Tuesday, said that JAC is against any “relocation” or the false and misleading premise that the Chakma and Hajong were given “temporary shelter” as refugees in Arunachal Pradesh.
JAC reiterates that no doubt the Chakmas and Hajongs came as refugees in 1960’s, 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 1960’s 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.
CDFI urges Khandu not to perpetuate prejudices against Chakma-Hajongs
Meanwhile, the Chakma Development Foundation of India (CDFI) has urged Chief Minister Khandu not to perpetuate prejudices against the Chakmas and Hajongs of Arunachal Pradesh by terming them as refugees, not eligible for permanent settlement in the state and therefore, proposing their relocation in different States of India.
“The Chakmas and Hajongs were settled by the Union of India, the competent authority of then NEFA, from 1964 onwards and those born in the NEFA/Arunachal Pradesh are citizens of India by birth… Most of those who had migrated during 1964-1969 are almost dead and those who are alive cannot be removed from the State as per the directions of the Supreme Court in its 1996 judgment in NHRC Vs State of Arunachal Pradesh.
There is also no provision in the Constitution of India defining Arunachal Pradesh or any other State as a tribal State and in fact, Article 371(h) of the Constitution only gives special responsibility and powers to the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh. Therefore, the statements such as Chakmas and Hajongs are refugees, Arunachal Pradesh is a tribal state protected by the Constitution etc are incorrect and only perpetuate the prejudices against a section of the Indian citizens,” stated Suhas Chakma, founder of the CDFI.
He cautioned Arunachal Pradesh by stating that, “if Arunachal Pradesh expects other States to take a few thousand Chakmas and Hajongs, there will be call upon Arunachal Pradesh to share the burden of 1.9 million people excluded from the NRC in Assam and other States like Tripura considering that the density of population in 2022 was 17 persons in Arunachal Pradesh compared 431 people per square kilometer in India.”
Further picking the CM statement that “whenever he visits eastern Arunachal Pradesh and meets the Chakmas, he feels extremely sad to see that Chakmas have no facilities, the housing conditions are bad and there are so many poor Chakmas”, Suhas Chakma said, “The Chief Minister must realize that the deplorable economic conditions and extreme poverty have been created by the State of Arunachal Pradesh by denying all the rights and facilities to the Chakmas and Hajongs in the last 60 years.
Mere expression of sadness is not enough; Chief Minister himself must ensure implementation of the sustainable development goals in the Chakma and Hajong inhabited areas if such extreme poverty is to be alleviated.”
