No Directive to Stop Census of Chakma and Hajong Refugees in Arunachal Pradesh: CM Khandu

ITANAGAR: The Arunachal Pradesh government has not issued any order suspending the census of Chakma and Hajong refugees in the state, according to Chief Minister Pema Khandu.

Khandu indicated that his government is determined to ending the long-running war and that Chakma and Hajong refugees will be rehabilitated in other states.

"The census has not been suspended since the government has not given an official order to do so." "We would ask the district administrations to resume the census as soon as possible," Khandu told a news agency. The All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) handed the state administration a 15-day ultimatum to start the census on Saturday, prompting Khandu's announcement. After receiving a letter from the Prime Minister's Office on December 7, the state administration was alleged to have placed the census on hold. 

The Chakma Development Foundation of India (CDFI) accused Arunachal Pradesh of racial profiling of 65,000 Chakmas and Hajongs in a petition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat earlier this month.

Khandu added that the state's indigenous people have been informed that Chakma and Hajong refugees will be rehabilitated in other states.

"For which the enumeration procedure is being carried out to know the precise numbers of legitimate and illegal migrants so that we can begin discussions with the Centre for their speedy settling in other states with full facilities," he said. 

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