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Friday, March 29, 2024

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Friday, March 29, 2024

Chakma, Hajongs stage protest in Delhi over cancellation of RPCs 

GUWAHATI:

 

More than 200 representatives of Chakma and Hajong organisations of Arunachal Pradesh, on November 29, staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and submitted a memorandum to Union Home minister Amit Shah in protest against the cancellation of Residential Proof Certificates (RPCs) issued to the Chakmas and Hajongs of Arunachal Pradesh, and directions to issue Temporary Settlement Certificates (TSCs) “for education and job opportunities in Central government”. 

 

The protestors also informed Shah that the Assam Rifles vide order dated November 23 notified that “Temporary Residential Certificate Not accepted as proof of domicile/permanent resident certificate” for joining services. Some Chakmas and Hajongs have recently been selected. 

 

Addressing the protest rally, Chakma Development Foundation of India (CDFI) founder Suhas Chakma, said, “There is no rule of law in Arunachal Pradesh. The AAPSU is acting as the supreme authority over the state government. Even the order dated November 22 suspending Extra Assistant Commissioner of Diyun Circle, Changlang district Snehanghsu Roy for purportedly issuing RPCs to the Chakmas and Hajongs had to be marked to the AAPSU. It is a reflection of the sad state of affairs in the state.”

 

The Chakma and Hajong representatives organisations demanded the Union home minister to direct the Arunachal Pradesh government to issue present and permanent resident certificates as provided under laws and administrative practice/requirements across the country and direct the Assam Rifles under the Ministry of Home Affairs not to deny recruitment of the Chakmas and Hajongs because of the non-grant of residence proof certificates by Arunachal Pradesh and recruit eligible Chakmas and Hajongs already selected. 

 

“Only citizens of India qualify for central government jobs and therefore, it is the admitted position of the state government of Arunachal Pradesh that those to be issued TSCs are Indian citizens. As the Assam Rifles itself has rejected the temporary residential certificates for recruitment, it is obvious that the stated aims of issuing TSCs stand defeated and therefore the order issuing TSCs has to be withdrawn and residence proof certificates ought to be issued,” said Tejang Chakma, Delhi-NCR convenor of Chakma Hajong Rights Alliance (CHRA). 

 

“Every citizen of this country is issued present and permanent address certificates by the relevant authorities. Under the Income Tax Act and the Representation of Peoples Act, any person staying in a place for about six months is considered an ordinary resident. These Chakmas and Hajongs have been born and brought up in Arunachal Pradesh. A citizen living in his/her birthplace being issued temporary settlement certificates (TSC) is unheard of under Indian laws and administrative practices and it is being done only for sadistic pleasure,” said Rup Singh Chakma, president of Arunachal Pradesh Chakma Students Union (APCSU).

 

“There are about 30,000 Chakma and Hajong Indian citizens who are born and brought up in Arunachal Pradesh in the age groups eligible for education and employment. They have been issued Residential Proof Certificates (RPCs) for educational and employment purposes,” said Santosh Baburah Chakma, youth leader and president of Chakma Welfare and Cultural Society of Noida. 

 

“The cancellation of the RPCs and issuance of the TRCs are nothing but an act of racial discrimination. Other non-Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribes are not issued Temporary Settlement Certificates and the Chakmas and Hajongs are being targeted because of their ethnic origin and descent,” said Sumangal Chakma, convenor of Arunachal Pradesh Chakma & Hajong Students Association.

 

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