Dear Editor,
As Indians and Arunachali, we have to respect the order of the highest court of the country which is seeking to grant citizenship to the Chakmas.
We have to understand that we have lost the case. Reasons may be many but the fact is Chakmas are becoming citizens of India. Now the State Government with the Collaboration of the Centre should come up with a master plan to safeguard the Tribals of Arunachal Pradesh.
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has been set up under Article 338A. Commission has certain functions and duties to uphold the rights of the Tribals. It is my earnest request to the State govt to work in tandem with the commission and settle the issue as soon as possible.
Secondly, an official letter was sent to all the Chief Secretaries of all the state of India regarding the Guidelines and instructions of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe. In the enclosure to circular letter No. No. 35/1/72-R.U.(SCT.V), Dated, the 2nd may 1975 by O.K. Moorthy, Director General, BCW.
In the second para of the letter it is clearly written that where a person migrates from one State to another, he can claim to belong to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe only in relation to the state to which he originally belonged and not in respect of the State to which he has migrated.
So Subhir bhaumik who appeared on the RS TV debating that Chakma and Hajong should be given equal citizenship status in Arunachal Pradesh should know that a person cannot get same ST status in two states.
According to Census of 2001, Chakmas are the third largest tribe in Tripura with the population of around 65000. Now the Chakmas of Arunachal pradesh can be given equal citizenship status in Tripura.
In Arunachal they will never get the Rights to land as well. It is upto the State government to see that the Chakmas and Hajong never get the rights to the land as long as the Bengal eastern frontier regulation of 1873 is on place.
The government should keep their feet firm in dealing with the issue so that no complications arise in future.
Yours,
Kenjom Angu