The people of Arunachal Pradesh are strongly protesting against the Centre’s plans to grant citizenship to Chakma and Hajong refugees in the state.
State chief minister, Pema Khandu, on Monday told about the anxiety of the people of the state on granting citizenship these refugees in Arunachal Pradesh.
In a letter to Union home minister Rajnath Singh, on Monday, Khandu has mentioned that the matter is of deep emotional concern and the state was not ready to accept any infringement of the constitutional protection given to the tribals of the state, an official release said. Singh said that Arunachal Pradesh, with its unique history, is governed by a special act–The Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873. Section 2 of the act prohibits all citizens of India or any class of such citizens from going beyond such line without a pass issued under the hand and seal of an officer authorised with such function.
“Section 7 of the regulation says it shall not be lawful for any person, not being a native of the district, comprised in the preamble of this regulation, to acquire any interest in land or the product of land beyond the said inner line…,” he said.
