GUWAHATI:
The Chakma and Hajong organisations on July 30 appealed to the All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU) to call off the proposed bandh called by the group on August 3.
The AAPSU has called for a 24-hour bandh from 4 am on August 3 to 4 am on August 4 as the first phase of its agitation, if the state government fails to meet its demands.
The student organisation said that it decided during a meeting with its affiliate unions here regarding issuing of residential proof certificates by some officials to over 500 Chakma and Hajong refugees.
The AAPSU also sought the arrest of one Biri Joy for “demeaning AAPSU and its cause and the indigenous people of Arunachal.”
On July 18, the student body had served a 15-day ultimatum to the state government to resolve the Chakma-Hajong issue and had threatened to enforce an indefinite state-wide bandh from August 3 if the government failed to meet its demands.
Addressing a press conference at Diyun on July 30, leaders of Chakma Hajong Rights Alliance (CHRA) and its members – Chakma and Hajong Elders Forum (CHEF), Committee for Citizens’ Rights of Chakmas and Hajongs of Arunachal Pradesh (CCRCHAP), Arunachal Pradesh Chakma Students Union (APCSU) and Arunachal Pradesh Chakma Hajong Students’ Association (APCHSA) claimed that the issuance of residence certificate to the Chakmas and Hajongs is legal.
“Under the Finance Act of 2020, any person staying in India for an aggregate period of 120 days or more is an ordinary resident. Form 6 of the Registration of Electors Rule-1960 does not specify the period to be included as an ordinary resident and voter under the Representation of People Act of 1950. All persons in India are required to be issued proof of residence and the same can be issued by any authority whether EAC, MLA or local Panchayat or Municipal officers,” they said.
“Therefore, issuance of proof of residence certificate to the Chakmas and Hajongs are not illegal but in compliance with the laws,” said Krishna Chakma, spokesperson of CHRA.
“Robin Chakma is a citizen of India and a contractual worker with the EAC office at Diyun. Any qualified citizen can be employed as a contractual worker.
The case has arisen only because he is a Chakma. His ethnic origin must not be treated as a crime and he has not committed any crime,” said Bipin Roshan Chakma, vice president of APCSU.
“The Deputy Commissioner of Changlang and the EAC of Diyun also have not committed any offence by issuing residence certificates to the Chakmas and Hajongs as per the laws of the land or hiring qualified citizens as contractual workers,” said Rajesh Chakma, general secretary of APCHSA.
“In the light of these facts that issuance of residence certificates to the Chakmas and Hajongs and hiring of any contractual worker is legal, there is no cause for either action on these demands of the AAPSU or any bandh to press for these demands. We, therefore, urge the AAPSU to reconsider calling off the demands and bandh,” Krishna Chakma further said.
“The Chakmas and Hajongs have lived in Arunachal Pradesh for the last 60 years. NEFA/Arunachal Pradesh is the motherland of 95% of the Chakmas and Hajongs who are born and brought up in the State. There is a need to end racial discrimination against the Chakmas and Hajongs and allow everybody to contribute towards the development of the State,” he added.