Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Credit: PTI Photo
Guwahati: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju's recent remarks that over 60,000 Chakma-Hajong "refugees" could be relocated from Arunachal Pradesh to neighbouring Assam has apparently put the ruling BJP in a tight spot ahead of the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 26.
The Opposition parties in Assam attacked the BJP after Rijiju said that the Chakma-Hajongs would be given citizenship through the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and said that he held talks with Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to find land for their relocation.
As the heat of the Opposition parties grew, Sarma on Tuesday tried to downplay Rijiju's remarks saying no talks have taken place between the Centre and Assam government over the issue.
"Rijiju might have said something in view of the political situation in Arunachal Pradesh. But there has been no talks with the Centre on this issue yet. And there is no land in Assam for settlement of the Chakmas and Hajongs," Sarma told reporters on Tuesday following the rebuke, mainly from two regional Opposition parties -- Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and Akhil Gogoi-led Raijor Dal.
The two parties, which came into being out of the anti-CAA agitation in Assam in 2020, have been leading a campaign against BJP over the issue of CAA.
"Rijiju's statement has exposed what we have been saying for long that a large number of illegal migrants from Bangladesh would be given citizenship through the CAA for settlement in Assam," Akhil Gogoi said.
Anti-foreigner sentiments play a key role in elections in Assam.
Chakma-Hajongs
The Buddhist Chakmas and Hindu Hajongs were settled in the 1960s in parts of Changlang and Papum Pare districts of Arunachal Pradesh after they had fled Chittagong Hill Tracts of present Bangladesh following an ethnic clash and a dam disaster. Population of the two communities are now estimated to be around 65,000.
The BJP government in Arunachal Pradesh said that the Chakmas and Hajongs would be relocated outside the state in view of the strong opposition by the local tribes. Chakma organisations, however, have been demanding citizenship certificates to the Chakma and Hajongs as directed by the Supreme Court in 1996 in its order regarding the NHRC Vs Arunachal Pradesh government case.
Suhas Chakma, the founder of Chakma Development Foundation of India told DH on Tuesday that there was a political motive behind Rijiju's statement ahead of Lok Sabha polls. Rijiju is seeking re-election from Arunachal West constituency.
"On the so-called relocation of the Chakmas and Hajongs, Home Minister Amit Shah never made a statement, while the Prime Minister’s Office had specifically directed the Arunachal Pradesh government to stop the census of only the Chakmas and Hajongs because it amounts to racial profiling. About 95 per cent of the Chakmas and Hajongs of Arunachal Pradesh are citizens of the country (by birth) and no government has the authority or power to relocate a citizen against their will," Chakma said.