Barak Chakma students protest against ‘discrimition' in Mizoram

Silchar, Aug 7: Barak Valley Chakma Students’ Association (BVCSA) protested through an organized demonstration against the highly discrimitory attitude and treatment of Mizoram Government towards them. The protest was held in front of the statue of Khudiram Bose at Club Road of this town on Monday. An impressive strength of Chakma students joined the protest demonstration with banners, posters and play cards, highlighting their grievances. Reemi Dewan Chakma, general secretary of the Association, deplored the racial discrimition meted out to the Chakmas in Mizoram.

 The discrimition was glaringly reflected in respect of the admission of Chakma students for MBBS under Mizoram state quota. Four Chakma students after tiol Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) 2017 were placed in the ranks number 4, 9, 17 and 23. They were allotted MBBS seats on July 20, but the Mizoram Government for reasons best known to itself cancelled these seats. According to Reemi Dewan Chakma, such illegal and unjustified cancellation was done at the dictate of Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP). The four Chakma students are Darshan Chakma, rank 4, Nibir Chakma, rank 9, Miss Mini Chakma, rank 17, and Nibir Tongchangya, rank 23.

 Darshan Chakma was allotted seat at Guwahati Medical College and Hospital, Nibir Chakma at Dr. S N Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Mizz Mini Chakma at Burdwan Medical College, West Bengal, and Nibir Tongchangya at JLMM MC, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Quite strangely, the demands of the MZP are that only Mizo students should be given medical seats and not Chakmas. Amar Chakma, president of the Association, condemning such attitude of the MZP said such action on its part is highly undemocratic and unconstitutiol. Most condemble is the action of the Mizoram Government which has followed the dictation of MZP without any ground and legality.

 Raising their voice against such inhuman and undemocratic stand of the MZP and Mizoram Government, the Chakmas demanded revocation of all the rules and regulations in force in the state which discrimite against the Chakmas. They have also demanded cancellation of Selection of Candidates for Higher Technical Courses Rules 2016 which is a negation of the fundamental and constitutiol rights of the non-Mizo tribes. The Association reminds the Mizoram Government that the state of Mizoram is governed by the Constitution of India that ensures social, political and human rights to the Chakmas and other tribal communities.

 Moreover, the provisions of Mizoram Peace Accord should not be buried in the abysmal of time, but adhered to in the larger interests of the state as a whole. After holding protest demonstration at Club Road, the Chakma students proceeded to the Office of the Liaison Officer, Mizoram House, here and submitted to him a memorandum on their grievances addressed to the Chief Minister, Lalthanhawla.