Shah urged by Tribal Body to investigate repressions against Chakmas

New Delhi/Agartala : Friday, November 20th, 2008 - The Chakma Development Foundation of India (CDFI), a Delhi-based organization, sought the intervention of Amit Shah, Union Home Minister, to end alleged persecutions of Chakma tribesmen in four Northeastern states -- Arunachal Pradesh (Arunachal Pradesh), Assam (Tripura), and Mizoram.

Suhas Chakma, founder of CDFI, stated that Arunachal Pradesh Chief minister Pema Khandu suggested in his Independence Day speech to move Chakmas (and Hajongs) 60 years after permanent settlement.He stated that 110 Chakma tribe families from Thedongnala, Hojai District of Assam were "illegally expelled" in an eviction drive which took place since November 8.This despite Chakmas having lived there for more than 40 years.Tripuras government directed officials to investigate the alleged inflow of Chakmas, despite greater influx from other communities.

CDFI also stated that Scheduled Tribes status was taken from Chakmas by Mizoram under the Mizoram Rules (Selection Of Candidates for Higher Technical Courses), 2021, which allocated only one percent of seats for Chakmas in higher education.Suhas Chakma stated that these are just a few examples of nation-wide suppression on the 2,25,000 Chakmas living in India according to 2011 census.

He stated that "If the repression of the Chakmas goes on unabated, and corrective remedial actions are not taken," the growing alienation from the Chakmas could have an impact on the election outcomes for the Tripura Assembly elections in 2023 against the BJP.The Reserved Tribes of Tripura have 20 Assembly seats, but the Chakmas control seven Assembly constituencies.The CDFI requested the Home Minister for remedial action.

Pema Khandu, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, was asked to make an official statement disapproving the illegal and unconstitutional relocations of Chakmas/Hajongs.Shah was also requested by the organisation to request Himanta Biswa Singh, Assam Chief minister, to provide immediate rehabilitation and resettlement to the Chakma family as required under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013.

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumal Kumar Deb asked Shah to stop investigating the Chakmas as foreigners and to inquire about all foreigners, regardless of their caste, religion, or ethnic origin.The CDFI memo stated that the Home Minister could ask Mizoram Governor for an examination of the Constitution of the Mizoram Selection of Candidates for Higher Technical Courses Rules 2021, especially considering the 2016 court decision in a PIL and give necessary instructions to the state government in order to remove the unconstitutional laws.

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