CHT Chakma victims want Indian citizenship

A delegation of All India Chakma Social Forum met a key federal Indian minister in New Delhi and sought his intervention for grant of Indian citizenship to Chakma migrants who had escaped from Pakistani brutalities in Chittagong Hill Tracts in 1960s. 

The delegation met Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh, and submitted a memorandum stating that during 1964-68 around 15,000 Chakmas had fled from the Chittagong Hill Tracts of the then East Pakistan.

These Chakmas settled in the then Northeastern Front Agency (NEFA), currently Arunachal Pradesh.

The delegation members complained that not a single Chakma migrant in Arunachal Pradesh has been granted citizenship rights till date despite specific directions of the Supreme Court of India issued on January 9 in the case of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) vs State of Arunachal Pradesh and others, an official statement said.

Following another writ petition, the Indian Supreme Cou

A delegation of All India Chakma Social Forum met a key federal Indian minister in New Delhi and sought his intervention for grant of Indian citizenship to Chakma migrants who had escaped from Pakistani brutalities in Chittagong Hill Tracts in 1960s. 

The delegation met Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh, and submitted a memorandum stating that during 1964-68 around 15,000 Chakmas had fled from the Chittagong Hill Tracts of the then East Pakistan.

These Chakmas settled in the then Northeastern Front Agency (NEFA), currently Arunachal Pradesh.

The delegation members complained that not a single Chakma migrant in Arunachal Pradesh has been granted citizenship rights till date despite specific directions of the Supreme Court of India issued on January 9 in the case of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) vs State of Arunachal Pradesh and others, an official statement said.

Following another writ petition, the Indian Supreme Court in its judgment dated September 17 directed the Indian government and the State of Arunachal Pradesh to process the citizenship applications.

The memorandum also alleged that not a single application of any Chakma migrant had been recommended for grant of citizenship in spite of fulfilling the criteria for the citizenship. As a result, according to them, the Chakmas cannot move out of their villages because of lack of identity proof which is necessary and is indispensable in the context of current security scenario.

The signatories to the memorandum sought that two special officers be designated in the federal Home Ministry to address the issues raised by them and ensure early redressal.

Singh said he would forward their case to the MHA.

rt in its judgment dated September 17 directed the Indian government and the State of Arunachal Pradesh to process the citizenship applications.

The memorandum also alleged that not a single application of any Chakma migrant had been recommended for grant of citizenship in spite of fulfilling the criteria for the citizenship. As a result, according to them, the Chakmas cannot move out of their villages because of lack of identity proof which is necessary and is indispensable in the context of current security scenario.

The signatories to the memorandum sought that two special officers be designated in the federal Home Ministry to address the issues raised by them and ensure early redressal.

Singh said he would forward their case to the MHA.