Tibetan rehab policy to open flood gate in State

From our correspondent

Itagar, Sept 8:  Aruchal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Takam Sanjoy on Friday said that implementation of the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy 2014 would open another flood gate for the State.

When Aruchal Pradesh protected by constitutiol safeguards has been facing Chakma-Hajong turmoil since decades, implementation of the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy 2014 would open another flood gate in the State, he said.

“This predomitely tribal State, protected by constitutiol safeguards, like Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 and Chin Hills Regulation, 1896 cannot be equated with Himachal Pradesh, Kartaka, New Delhi, Uttarakhand, which have decided to adopt the policy. But any Indian policy is not mandatory for Aruchal,” he reasoned.

Indians are not even permitted to enter this State without inner line permit (ILP) and have no right on land or business, he said and reminded the State government about the ordeal of Chakma-Hajong refugees. “The Tibetan policy came like a bolt from the blue for indigenous people and its implementation may lead to an eruption of a volcano.” The APCC president said.

The policy draft was not prepared by the Centre in consultation with any State government as claimed recently by the State Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who had intriguingly claimed this on behalf of the Centre.

Terming the policy adoption as whimsical, he said, if implemented it would create a new social disorder as there are already Tibetan settlements at Tenjing Gaon, Tezu and Miao in West Kameng, Lohit and Changlang districts respectively.

“Any issue relating to Chakma-Hajong, Tibetans or Bangladeshi should be viewed seriously as this Himalayan State has turned into most volatile hotspot of South East Asia,” he said.

Claiming that as per security reports, refugee cards were being misused either by them or other forces, while the election cards issued to Chakma-Hajong refugees on the basis of their Aruchal camp address were also in total violation of the Constitution, he said.  

“Thus, the Tibetans should be allowed to remain in their settlements ‘as is where is’ basis with facilities to be granted only by the Centre, not by the State government. Any trading license should not be granted to them except the way others Indians are given on power of attorney basis on humanitarian ground,” he advocated.

The APCC has decided to lead a delegation to call on the Dalai Lama to apprise him the impacts of such tiol policy in this protected State, he added.