Arunachal govt to file curative petition on refugee issue

The curative petition in the Supreme Court is in respect to permanent settlement of Chakma and Hajong refugees in the state

Arunachal Pradesh government will file a curative petition in the Supreme Court in respect to permanent settlement of Chakma and Hajong refugees in the state.

An all party meeting held here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Nabam Tuki unanimously endorsed the state government's decision to file the curative petition, an official communique said.

The participants in the meeting raised serious concern over the 'one sided' ruling of the apex court on September 17 directing the state government to grant permanent citizenship to Chakma-Hajong refugees and subsequently rejecting the review petition for hearing in open court.

The meeting also endorsed that the state government take up with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for filing a separate curative petition as it was respondent number one in the judgement.

The meeting was attended by representatives of BJP, Peoples' Party of Arunachal (PPA), NCP and Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), the communique added.

Tuki had earlier said the state government was not against the grant of citizenship to the Chakma-Hajong refugees but was opposed to their permanent residence in Arunachal Pradesh and the exemption of inner line permit.