Our Bureau
AGARTALA, November 19 2020: Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Debbarman Thursday said government is ready to talk with the protestors who have enforced an indefinite strike in Kanchanpur against decision to rehabilitate a section of Mizoram Bru refugees in the area.
He however did not give any indication that plan to rehabilitate some 35000 Bru displaced people would be amended. He lashed out at previous left front government for not resolving the issue, rather lingering it for years.
Jishnu Debbarman claimed the state government with active support of the Centre finally settled the matter.
The Joint Movement Committee (JMC) has enforced the indefinite strike against a decision to rehabilitate 5000 evacuees in Kanchanpur. Non tribal groups shook hands with local Mizo population to spearhead the agitation.
35,000 Bru or Reang refugees are housed in six makeshift camps in Kanchanpur since 1997 after influx started amid ethnic tension in neighbouring Mizoram.
Long stalemate amid failures of several repatriation attempts finally ended up with signing of a quadripartite agreement at New Delhi.
“A critical issue of the north-east has been settled with the help of the Tripura and Mizoram governments”, Union home minister Amit Shah had said after signing of the accord.
MHA will bear whole expenditure towards settlement of the evacuees and other benefits assured in the agreement. Each refugee family would get a plot of land, rations, fixed deposit of 4 lakh and a monthly stipend of 5000 for two years.
In addition they will also be provided 1.5 lakh each to construct houses. The agreement debars refugees from claiming rights in Mizoram and made them citizens of Tripura.
Tripura government has selected 12 places for rehabilitation of the refugees. One of the places falls in Kanchanpur - scene of current protest.
Protesting JMC argues that local residents have had suffered immensely from economic engagements to land rights to law & order problem during years of stay of the refugees in the area. Hence they are demanding their settlement beyond Kanchanpur.
State government sources said different places selected for rehabilitation of the refugees and if Kanchanpur is taken out then similar protest would erupt elsewhere thus will create a mess in the whole process.