Chakma Hajong relocation: Arunachal Pradesh urged to share migrants' burden of NE

New Delhi: The Director of the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG), Mr Suhas Chakma  on Friday appealed to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha and Tipra Motha Chief Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma to raise the issue of sharing the burden of the migrants from their states with Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu after he raised the issue of relocation of the Chakmas and Hajongs from the state on October 7, 2025 after meeting Chakma leaders known as workers of a local MLA.

“Arunachal Pradesh is the most sparely populated with 17 persons per square kilometre against 48 persons per square kilometre in India. Arunachal Pradesh can surely accommodate more people and if Arunachal Pradesh expects other states to share its so-called burden, as part of India, it should equally share the burden of other states”- stated Mr Chakma.

 

While appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Home Minister Amit Shah for intervention, Mr Chakma further stated, “Arunachal Pradesh has to protect India's national security to counter China’s 'Xiaokang Project' under which China has been building 628 villages along Indo-China border including 90 new villages along its side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) of Arunachal Pradesh.

Arunachal needs more people and not less people by expelling the Indian citizens even if they belong to Chakma tribe. This national security threat from China is a matter of concern for the entire country. When China is building villages, India cannot depopulate its borders and victimize the very people (Chakmas) who were sent for the national security purposes.”

After the 1962 Indo-China war, the Government of India developed a scheme to populate sparsely populated the North East Frontier Agency. As part of this scheme, the Assam Rifles settled about 2,000 Assam Rifles Ex-servicemen in Vijaynagar under then Tirap district and the Chakmas and Hajongs were also settled there. The settlement in the NEFA was noted by the Supreme Court in its judgment dated 1 May 1989 in Assam Rifles Multipurpose Co-operative Society Ltd. Vs Union of India and Another [AIR 1990 SC 111 : (1989) 2 JT 25]  by stating that, “4….After hearing the parties we were satisfied that settlement and habitation in that region should be encouraged. The region constitutes part of Indian territory and is located on the Indian border with China and Burma. It is in the public interest and for the benefit of the public that settlement of Indian citizens should be encouraged in this area and the area should be suitably developed.”

Mr Chakma alleged that not only the Chakmas and Hajongs but even the ex-Assam Rifles personnel are being persecuted through non-implementation of the scheme and the Supreme Court had to issue another judgment on 29 April 2025 for protection of the ex-Assam Rifles personnel settled in Arunachal Pradesh.

The persecution of the Chakmas and Hajongs sees no end. The Chakmas who migrated in 1964 have not been granted citizenship despite the Supreme judgment in 1996.

Mr Chakma cautioned Arunachal Pradesh by stating that “As per the 1996 judgment, the State of Arunachal Pradesh cannot relocate the Chakma Hajong migrants until their citizenship applications are processed and their current populations are about 3,000. The descendants of the migrants are citizens by birth as per the Citizenship Act of 1955 and they are voting as citizens. Arunachal Pradesh cannot relocate a citizen (even if they are Chakma). The Constitutional Courts of this country are not going to permit the blatant violations of the right to life, the right to freedom of movement, equality before law, equal protection of the law and non-discrimination if Arunachal Pradesh conducts census or relocation. A Chakma citizen has equal rights as any other tribal citizen of Arunachal Pradesh.”

“The Chakmas shall not allow the State government of Arunachal Pradesh to relocate the Chakmas by projecting the Chakma workers of a local MLA (who belongs to the partner of the ruling party of State government) as representatives of the community who want relocation or illegal census!”- further cautioned Mr Chakma.