ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, May 21: National People’s Party –Arunachal Unit has opposed the visit of National Commission for Minorities Member Rinchen Lhamo to villages of the Chakma community claiming them as refugees.
Speaking to the media, General Secretary NPP (Arunachal) Paknga  Bage stated "Before visiting the state, Lhamo should have studied about the Chakma-Hajong issue in the state. Such visits and giving unacceptable statements would create more unrest in the state. Chakmas are refugees and their citizenship status is still pending in the Supreme Court, so visiting their settlement area in the name of minorities will definitely hurt the sentiments of indigenous people."
Moreover, there are dozens of indigenous tribes in the state who are minorities in terms of both religion and population in comparison to the Chakma refugees, but the NCM Member has only visited the refugee’s settlement areas, asserted Bage while adding that, "We don’t have any objection to her visit to any areas in her personal level, but when she is visiting the state officially as NCM Member she should know the ground reality that state is 100% ST as well as inhabited by religious minorities."
NPP further urged the NCM member to withdraw her statement in support of the Chakma community.
State Secretary, Legal & Legislative Affair-NPP (AP) Pura Khonkhung, said "As per her statement, she visited  Buddhist minority areas, whereas similar religious minority community is in Tawang, West Kameng and Namsai. The whole of Arunachal Pardesh is a minority state that needs basic facilities but she ignored them."
Chakma-Hajong refugees issue is not new in the state, so without knowing the political history, and ground reality, she should avoid giving such sensitive remarks. We appreciate her effort for the welfare of the minorities, but her first visit to the state was in the wrong place, and giving wrong statement has hurt the sentiments of indigenous people," he added.

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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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