ITANAGAR, May 29: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) on Monday submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister’s Office regarding the Central government’s recent decision on granting citizenship to Chakmas and Hajongs.
The memorandum was an outcome of the consultative meeting the apex students’ body had organised on May 27 following reports that the Ministry of Home Affairs would be granting citizenship to Chakmas and Hajongs in the state by “undermining the aspirations and sentiments of the indigenous people”.
“The development has once again exposed the step-motherly and negligent attitude of the Central government on the vexed issue that has agitated the peace loving people of the state,” the AAPSU said in the memorandum.
The consultative meeting had endorsed AAPSU to liaise and take consent of the CMO for an all-party meeting involving all elected representative including the three MPs within a week’s time.
The AAPSU requested the chief minister to initiate the necessary process for materialising the said meeting taking into consideration the seriousness of the problem.
“Matter of fact is the state government at different point of time has lent its helping hand in pursuit of the issue. An example is the historic People’s Referendum Rally of September 20, 1995 at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium Naharlagun attended by former Chief Minister Gegong Apang and all the elected members including threes MPs of the time. Another instance was the massive rally at Namsai in 2003 attended by former Chief Minister Mukut Mithi along with his cabinet colleagues and MLAs. Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu too had initiated the formation of joint high power committee with MHA with former Joint Secretary Home North East Sambhu Singh in the chair. The issue still remain elusive and bereft of any tangible solution,” AAPSU said.
The union has also decided to summon all its federating units by the first week of June to brief them about the development and also discuss future course of action.
The union appealed the CMO for holding the all-party meeting within a week of receiving the representation. The AAPSU would otherwise be compelled to hit the street and take its own course of action, the union said.