Chakma-Hajong issue: ‘Wild and unwarranted’, CRDO labels AAPSU allegations

The Chakma Rights and Development Organisation (CRDO) has slammed the ultimatum issued by the All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU) to the Pema Khandu-led state government to revoke Residential Proof Certificates or RPCs allegedly given to members of the Chakma Hajong community in Arunachal’s Changlang district.

In a press statement, the CRDO labeled the allegations by AAPSU on the Chakma-Hajong community as ‘wild and unwarranted’ and claimed that Chakmas and Hajongs have been natives of the land long before Arunachal Pradesh as a state was born.

Arunjit Chakma, Member, Joint Action Committee & Spokesperson, CRDO said that Chakmas and Hajongs were rehabilitated in Arunachal Pradesh, then known as the North East Frontier Agency or NEFA under a ‘definite plan of rehabilitation’ by the Govt. of India in consultation with local leaders and NEFA administration way back in 1964-69.

As such, issuing of RCs to Chakmas and Hajongs has been in existence for decades and any attempt to stop that now would tantamount to malafide, malicious, and illegal action, the spokesperson added.

Moreover, during the last 6 decades, Arunjit Chakma said, the Chakmas and Hajongs have assimilated, integrated, and shared many cultural practices, religious, spiritual, and material exchanges and even engaged in matrimonial relationships with the local populace.

Besides, the CRDO spokesperson also claimed that hundreds of youth from the Chakma-Hajong community are serving in the Indian Army and Paramilitary forces besides others under the central government by way of the RCs and as such revocation of RPCs issued to the community would be sheer discrimination against the Chakmas and Hajongs.