ITANAGAR, Sep 22: The State cabinet on Friday said that the rights of indigenous people of the state will not be compromised at any cost while endorsing the letter written by the Chief Minister opposing the grant of citizenship to the Chakma and Hajong refugees by the centre, based on Supreme Court directives.
The rights are inviolable and are enshrined in the Constitution of India and protected by various laws enacted from time to time.
The Cabinet took note of the letter written by Chief Minister to Union Minister 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.
It is worth mentioning that in its letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said that the matter of granting citizenship to the Chakma and Hajong refugees is of deep emotional concern and that the state is not ready to accept any infringement of the Constitutional protection bestowed on the tribal people of the state.
He reiterated the concerns of the people of Arunachal Pradesh on the vexed issue of granting citizenship to Chakma and Hajong refugees in the state and pointed that Arunachal Pradesh with its unique history is governed by a special Act, namely the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.
He added that Arunachal Pradesh is a predominantly tribal state and the Constitution of India gives special protection rights to the people of the state.
