Tibetan refugee policy earlier adopted by Congress: BJP

A day after Congress described the adoption of Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy, 2014 by Arunachal Pradesh government as 'whimsical', BJP today said extension of this policy by the Centre is actually a continuation of one adopted by Congress earlier.
"The Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy, 2014, extended by Narendra Modi government is nothing but a continuation of the existing policy," state BJP senior vice-president Dominic Tadar said in a statement.
The central policy with the Tibetan refugees have been extended by consecutive central governments in the past including the government led by Congress, he said.
Arunachal Pradesh's BJP government decided to adopt the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy, 2014, in the state last month and there have been protests in the state since then.

State Congress president Takam Sanjoy yesterday said that the decision to adopt the policy was "whimsical" decision to adopt the Policy, 2014, will create a new social disorder in Arunachal Pradesh if implemented.
The guideline of the policy states that Tibetan refugees may be allowed to undertake any economic activity and relevant license or permit may be issued to them, and they are also permitted to take jobs in any field.

Sanjoy said the policy was prepared by the Centre without consulting any state government.
As per a 2009 estimate, 1,10,095 Tibetan refugees are living in 45 settlement areas in different parts of the country including Tenzing Gaon, Miao and Tezu in Arunachal Pradesh, the BJP state president said.

The facilities would extended only to Registration Card Holders as refugees certified by the Central Tibetan Relief Committee (CTRC), Tadar said.
The Government of India consults with the CTRC on regular basis on the problems of Tibetan refugees, he said.
Tadar said the 20-year lease agreements of land for settlement and other businesses are signed only with CTRC and no individual Tibetans can do so.
The settlements of refugees are restricted to only demarcated areas as per lease agreement with the respective state governments which are being regulated by the Centre from time to time with CTRC.