Rijiju does U-turn, says ‘never sought Chakma-Hajong’s relocation to Assam’

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 25, 2024

In a sharp U-turn from his previous comment, Union earth science minister and BJP candidate from Arunachal West Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said he never said that Chakma-Hajong refugees who have been settled in Arunachal Pradesh since 1964, would be relocated in Assam.

“My statement has been twisted and misinterpreted to tarnish the image of Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. My remark in a press conference in Itanagar has been fabricated to create confusion at the time when the Lok Sabha elections were underway,” Rijiju told reporters in Guwahati on Thursday.

“Some wicked people are spreading a news item quoting me on the Chakma-Hajong issue. I have no intention to tarnish the image of Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. During a press conference, I was asked a question on the Chakma-Hajong issue. I told them that we talked to Union home minister Amit Shah for relocation of Chakma Hajongs as they can’t be granted citizenship of Arunachal Pradesh,” Rijiju said.

“I also seek help from Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to settle the issue. Sarma is not only the chief minister of Assam he is also the convenor of NEDA and an influential leader of the Northeast,” Rijiju said.

“It is Congress that is spreading the news. Congress brought Chakma and Hajongs to Arunachal in 1964. Arunachal is a 100 percent tribal state. Even an Indian can visit here with ILP. But the Congress violated the ILP in 1964,” Rijiju said.

“The Citizenship Amendment Act was passed in the Parliament. It is not applicable in the Sixth Schedule state. So Chakma-Hajongs will not get citizenship. We talked to Union home minister Amit Shah about their relocation to some other places. We also urged urged Assam CM for it,” Rijiju also said.

“Chakma-Hajongs are also human being. We don’t want to take the extreme step. We are giving them a peaceful option. We seek Assam government’s help,” he said.

“We are seeking options for their relocation. Who said that they would be relocated to Assam. I condemn the news. Congress and some other organisations are spreading the news to tarnish the image of Himanta Biswa Sarma ahead iof the second phase of Lok Sabha elections,” he added.

On April 22, Rijiju had said in Itanagar that Chakma-Hajong are guests in Arunachal, They are not entitled to get a permanent resident certificate (PRC) of citizenship here. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is a blessing for Arunachal Pradesh. It is out of the purview of Arunachal Pradesh. The CAA grants citizenship to non-Muslim migrants — Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians — from the three countries. So we will not grant them citizenship or permanent residents here,” Rijiju also said.

“We have already talked to the Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma about the resettlement of Chakmas in Assam. It is a big issue. There is also resistance from residents here,” the union minister had said. 

“We also initiated talked with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. But we don’t want to make We have been trying for their resettlement for the past three years. We are looking for suitable land for it. When we will get land we will tell them to leave here,” he had said.

“We have been working silently on the issue and and Assam government has been urged to identify an appropriate location for their relocation,” he had added.

Reacting sharply to Rijiju’s statement, Sarma has said that the Central government has not discussed anything over the relocation of Chakma and Hajong refugees in Assam.

“I don’t know what Rijiju has said, but the government of India has not discussed these matters with us. Rijiju might have perhaps said something given the political situation in Arunachal Pradesh,” Sarma told reporters. 

The chief minister maintained that there is no land available to re-settle the refugees and added, “No one from Chakma or Hajong communities has met me nor has the government of India discussed it with me. I will speak with Rijiju about the matter after the elections.”

Sarma had added that Assamese people residing in Arunachal Pradesh, numbering about 6,000-7,000, will be given permanent resident certificates by the Assam government.