Come with law against Delhi's citizenship move: AAPSU

From our correspondent

Itagar, Oct 10: The All Aruchal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) has asked the State government to pass legislation against the Central government’s decision to grant citizenship to the Chakma and Hajong refugees.

The next Assembly session is scheduled from October 13-18.

Also demanding immediate scrapping of the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy of 2014, AAPSU president Hawa Bagang said the government should be bold enough to take steps that safeguard the indigenous population of Aruchal.

“The government ignored our earlier appeal to convene a special Assembly sitting on the Chakma and Hajong issue. It must now pass legislation on the refugee issue,” he told reporters at Aruchal Press Club here.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu’s government had on June 19 this year, convened an all-party meet to discuss the Chakma-Hajong issue after which it was unimously resolved to explore all legal means to defend and protect the interests of the indigenous tribes of the State on the matter decided by the Supreme Court on granting citizenship to the refugees.

Reacting to the comments on social media wherein AAPSU’s on the Chakma-Hajong matter was questioned, Bagang asserted that his union has not backed off from the issue and it would not do so at any cost.

“Our first phase of protest in the form of 12-hour state bandh was successful and we are overwhelmed by the support we received. But at the same time the people, especially social media users, should understand that AAPSU does not run the government for decisions to be taken instantly. We are here to pressure the government and not dictate them, so defaming us and coming up with unwarranted allegations will take us nowhere,” said Bagang.

He further appealed to the people and the political parties of the State to stop politicising the issue. The union also appealed the MLAs of the opposition parties – Congress and PPA specifically – to raise the issue strongly in the Assembly.