ES Reporter 

ITANAGAR, Dec 13: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) on Thursday sought to know from both the State and Central governments about the fate of the Chakma and Hajong refugees settled in Arunachal Pradesh, in the context of the newly developed scenario following the enactment of the contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill.
Addressing a press conference here, General Secretary, AAPSU Tobom Dai asked the Centre to explain whether the refugees would be excluded from the purview of the bill and that ILP would be extended to them if they are granted citizenship. Justifying his demands, Dai said the union wanted a clear-cut statement on this burning issue since it is still confusing to them regarding the stands taken by both Central and State governments. 
When questioned why AAPSU is silent when their counterparts in the Northeast states are so vigorously opposing the bill, Dai said the union has so far kept itself restrained and is waiting for NESO’s command to take further action. He also reiterated that AAPSU has been fighting against Chakma and Hajong refugees for decades and will continue to fight till the issue resolves fully. Even if the Chakma and Hajong refugees get Indian citizenship through CAB, AAPSU would not accept their exemption from ILP, Dai affirmed.
AAPSU General Secretary also denounced Home Minister Bamang Felix's recent statement to media where he stated that AAPSU has supported the implementation of CAB. The statement made by the Minister now being widely shared in social media drew widespread condemnation against the apex student body from all corners. “A minister cannot be a spokesperson for a students’ union. People need to know the fact that AAPSU did not issue any official declaration nor made any statement before the minister that it supports the passage of the bill,” Dai clarified, adding that it is unthinkable that the Minister (Bamang Felix) can issue such an irresponsible statement. 
Summing up, President, AAPSU Hawa Bagang urged the state government to intensify ILP checking at every check-gate across the state to check the influx of illegal migrants in the wake of the passage of the bill. Referring to a meeting held with CM Pema Khandu after the meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Arunachal Bhawan in New Delhi, Bagang said that in that meeting they made it clear before the house that AAPSU will never support or accept the Citizenship Amendment Bill under any circumstances.

He also informed that they reiterated their stand before the Union Home Minister who later, after a threadbare discussion also assured to make ILP mandatory for refugees to protect the indigenous people from the onslaught of alien culture and the overwhelming influx of refugees.

Furthermore, AAPSU also appealed the Assamese community to help commuters from Arunachal stranded at various places there due to the bandh call.
It also expressed solidarity with its counterparts leading the protests across the Northeast states against CAB and thanked the All Assam Students’ Union leaders for rescuing many commuters caught in the midst of escalating protests.  

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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