Arunachal cabinet endorses CM’s stand on Chakma, Hajong issue

Itanagar, Sep 22 (IANS) The Arunachal Pradesh cabinet on Friday unanimously endorsed the stand taken by Chief Minister Pema Khandu over the issue of granting citizenship to Chakma and Hajong refugees and said that the rights of the state's indigenous people will not be compromised with.

The cabinet decision assumes significance in view of protests rocking the state after the recent direction of the Supreme Court to grant citizenship to the Chakma and Hajong refugees, who had been living in the state.

Following the apex court's verdict, Khandu had written to the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh saying that his state is not ready to accept any infringement of the Constitutional protection bestowed on the tribals of the state.

"The Council of Ministers took note of the letter written by Chief Minister to Union Minister of Home Affairs regarding the vexed issue of granting citizenship to Chakma and Hajong refugees and the entire cabinet unanimously endorsed the firm stand taken by the Chief Minister," said a government spokesperson on Friday.

"The Cabinet reaffirmed that the rights of indigenous people of the state will not be compromised at any cost. These rights are inviolable and are enshrined in the Constitution of India and protected by various laws enacted from time to time," he said.

Meanwhile, the the People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) on Friday demanded that the BJP-led government in the state must come out with clear policies and programmes to deal with the Chakma and Hajong refugee issue.