Why no Indian citizenship for Arunachal's Chakmas and Hajongs?

29 October, 2012

Chakmas and Hajongs did not secretly sneak into India but were brought under the arrangements made under the direct supervision of then Prime Minister of India Mrs Indira Gandhi. The Government of India had granted them Migration Certificates.

AS THEIR lands went under the waters of Kaptai dam, about 35,000 chakmas and hajongs migrated from east Pakisthan now Bangladesh and settled in the North Eastern Frontier Agency (NEFA), which is now Arunachal Pradesh, between 1964 to 1969.

The Arunachal Pradesh Government, local Tribal people and All Arunachal Pradesh Student Union (AAPSU) are calling and behaving as if Chakmas and Hajongs are illegal migrants of Arunachal Pradesh. Those who are crossing the border from one country to the other country secretly, and sneaked and settled in permanently - they are calling them illegal migrants but Chakmas and Hajongs did not secretly sneak into India but were brought under the arrangements made under the direct supervision of then Prime Minister of India Mrs Indira Gandhi. The Government of India had granted them Migration Certificates.

At that time, NEFA was scarcely populated, and the majority of locals were Buddhists and of Mongolic stock. Perhaps that’s why the Government ultimately decided to resettle them in that part of the country. That time, NEFA was administered by the Centre. In 1971 East Pakistan became a new country called Bangladesh and NEFA became a new state in 1987 and was called Arunachal Pradesh.

Anti-foreigners movement swept the North East State of India. After that in 1980 facilities to Chakmas and Hajongs were withdrew by the state government. Since 1991 the Chakmas and Hajongs have been fighting for citizenship right under the aegis of Committee for Citizenship Rights of the Chakmas and Hajongs of Arunachal Pradesh (CCRCHAP) headed by Mr. Subimal Bikash Chakma.

L.K Advani who was born in Karachi now in Pakistan became India’s Home Minister and Present Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh too was born in Pakistan. Other migrants/refugees from Pakistan have also been granted Indian citizenship then why are not Chakmas and Hajongs granted the same right?