Union Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju, during a press conference in Itanagar, disclosed a significant development. More than 67,000 individuals from the Chakma and Hajong communities, currently residing in Arunachal Pradesh, are set to be resettled in Assam.
The Chakma people, predominantly Buddhists, relocated to Arunachal Pradesh in the 1960s following the submersion of their original homes in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) due to a dam construction. Similarly, the Hindu Hajongs migrated from East Pakistan during the same period, purportedly due to religious persecution.
“They are staying here as guests. They are not entitled to get a permanent resident certificate or PRC of citizenship here,” said Rijiju in the presence of Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Bamang Felix and Itanagar BJP MLA Techi Kacho.
“The Citizenship Amendment Act or CAA is a blessing for Arunachal Pradesh. It is out of the purview of Arunachal Pradesh. The CAA grants citizenship to non-Muslim migrants – Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Paris and Christians – from the three countries. So we will not grant them citizenship or permanent residents here,” stated Rijiju.
“We have already talked to Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma about the resettlement of Chakmas in Assam. It is a big issue. There is also resistance from local residents here,” said the Union Minister.
“We also initiated talk with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. We have been trying for their resettlement for the past three years. We are looking for suitable land for it. When we will get land we will tell them to leave here,” he said.
“We have been working on the issue and Assam Government has been urged to identify an appropriate location for their relocation,” Rijiju said further adding, “I think Chakma and Hajongs should sit somewhere in Bharat, but not in Arunachal Pradesh.”
In 1996, the Supreme Court mandated both the Centre and the Arunachal Pradesh Government to confer citizenship upon the Chakma and Hajong communities. However, despite the court’s directive, the State Government has adamantly refused to acknowledge the judgment or enforce it.
In a contentious move in August 2022, the Arunachal Pradesh Government declared its cessation of issuing “residence proof certificates” to Chakma and Hajong refugees in Changlang district. This decision came amidst strong opposition from the All Arunachal Pradesh Student Union or AAPSU.
Subsequently, without the essential “proof of residence” certificates, the Chakma and Hajong individuals find themselves without Indian citizenship. Furthermore, Changlang district’s official responsible for issuing these certificates, Extra Assistant Commissioner, faced suspension from his duties.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu made a significant announcement on April 24, 2023. He pledged to address the longstanding issue of the Chakma and Hajong communities, indicating that their resettlement in different States of Bharat would be considered once the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary dispute was resolved.
This proposal stemmed from the recognition that, as refugees, the Chakma and Hajong populations could not be permanently settled in Arunachal Pradesh, a State safeguarded as a tribal entity under the Indian Constitution.
