The Chakma and the Hajong communities had escaped their country in 1960s, after their lands were flooded by the Kapti Dam. Nearly 1 lakh refugees belonging to these groups are based in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Centre is likely to grant citizenship to Chakmas, a Buddhist community, and the Hindu Hajong community, both displaced from the erstwhile east Pakistan in the mid-1960s. If the plan goes through, it will have a huge impact on the debate surrounding Rohingyas from Myanmar, who have been declared illegal immigrants and might be deported soon.
The Chakma and the Hajong communities had escaped their country in 1960s, after their lands were flooded by the Kapti Dam. Nearly 1 lakh refugees belonging to these groups are based in Arunachal Pradesh.
A meeting on the subject, to be chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, will be held on Wednesday. Other senior officials and Arunchal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu will be attending the discussion.
"Granting them citizenship is a complex issue. Many modalities have to be worked out. A meeting has been scheduled to discuss these things," a Home Ministry official said.
The issue of granting Indian citizenship to Chakma and Hajong refugees has remained contentious, with many political voices against the idea. In 2015, the Supreme Court (SC) had directed that the refugees be declared citizens of India. Consequently, protests led by the All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union broke out in the state. Even the state government challenged the SC order.
Since then, the deliberations on the subject between the Centre and the state government have been on. The communities cannot given the status of Scheduled Tribes (ST) , the Centre had contended in SC.
Earlier in June, Arunachal Pradesh CM Khandu had convened an all-party meeting to discuss the issue.
About Chakmas
Chakmas are a Buddhist community displaced from Bangladesh in the mid-1960s
There are nearly 1 lakh Chakma and Hajong refugees in Arunachal Pradesh
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