New Delhi: The Chakma Hajong organisations on Tuesday condemned cancellation of the Residential Proof Certificates (RPCs) issued by the Arunachal Pradesh government.
The Deputy Commissioner of Changlang district in an order November 14 directed the local officials to cancel the RPCs and instead issue Temporary Settlement Certificates (TSCs) to the Chakma and Hajongs.
“That Chakmas and Hajongs born in Arunachal Pradesh being issued Temporary Settlement Certificates is completely illegal and smacks of vindictiveness of the state based on racial ground,” Pritimoy Chakma, Convenor of the Chakma Hajong Rights Alliance (CHRA), said.
Chakma said a person who lives in an area for six months is issued an ordinary residence certificate across the country.
“But in Arunachal Pradesh, after sixty years, the Chakmas and Hajongs who are citizens of India are being issued temporary settlement certificates. We condemn this act of discrimination,” Chakma, said.
The entire process started with illegality and ended with illegality, the Chakma leader said.
On July 11, a team of All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU) visited the Office of the Extra Assistant Commissioner at Diyun and inspected official records which under the law, a non state actor cannot perform, he said.
On July 18, AAPSU submitted charter of demands to Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu including cancellation of the RPCs and booking the officials and local MLA under National Security Act, Chakma said.
On July 30, Arunachal Pradesh government had issued a notification constituting a five-member committee chaired by Secretary (Food and Civil Supplies) including two members from AAPSU to verify the RPCs.
“On July 31, Arunachal Pradesh government suspended the issuance of fresh RPCs in Changlang district and now, altogether cancelled the RPCs,” Rup Singh Chakma, President of Arunachal Pradesh Chakma Students Union, said.
Santosh Chakma, President of the Committee for Citizens’ Rights of the Chakmas and Hajongs of Arunachal Pradesh said the entire process of cancellation of the RPCs shows that the State of Arunachal Pradesh is not governed by the rule of law.
“A non-state actor without jurisdiction inspected records, and the state government instead of taking lawful actions against trespass into the government office allowed the same non-state actor to inquire into its own allegations by exercising the sovereign powers of the State as part of the government appointed commission of inquiry and pronounce its judgment,” Santosh Chakma, said.
Suhas Chakma, founder of the Chakma Development Foundation of India (CDFI) said the action of the Arunachal Pradesh government on the RPC issue is a blatant violation of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The time has come for Prime Minister Modi to hold his Chief Ministers for such blatant violation of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas,” Suhas Chakma said.
