'It's a lasting solution': Swaraj Kaushal hails Bru refugee pact

Hailing  repatriation agreement to resettle around 34,000 Bru refugees in Tripura, former Governor of Mizoram Swaraj Kaushal on Sunday said that it is a lasting arrangement. He ded that this agreement, signed between  Centre,  governments of Tripura and Mizoram and Bru-Reang representatives, indicates country’s commitment to national security. Furrmore, he said that conditions were not habitable inside camps and refugees will now le ir lives with dignity.  

Swaraj Kaushal of resettling Bru refugees 

Swaraj Kaushal, while heaping praises on  initiative, said, "This agreement is a solution, one that is going to last. It's so important. re are so much of good intentions behind this." 

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" Bru people have been in camps for more than 23 years. agreement is to settle m permanently so that y le a life of dignity. In camps, everything is missing," he said. 

"All se years, Delhi has been too far from North-East and North-East has been far too remote from it.  Reangs are Indian citizens. Look at ir strategical location. total population is about two lakh. One lakh Reangs are re in Tripura and nearly 65,000 in Mizoram. se 65,000 Bru refugees are all along border, n with East Pakistan and now Banglesh," said Kaushal who has served as  Governor of Mizoram between 1990 and 1993. 

"y are all along rivers and Indo-Banglesh border. fact is that Reangs are one of those tribes, which is your first line of defence. You cannot ignore this. I am happy that government thought of this," he furr said. 

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On Thursday, Union Home Minister, Amit Shah presided over agreement signing between Centre, Tripura, Mizoram and Bru-Reang representatives. As per this agreement, around 34,000 internally displaced people will be settled in Tripura. Shah said that around 34,000 Bru refugees will be settled in Tripura under new agreement and state would be given a package of around Rs 600 crore for ir rehabilitation. Also, refugees would now get rights that citizens of state get. 

Tripura and Mizoram CMs on signing agreement 

Chief Ministers of Tripura and Mizoram Biplab Kumar Deb and Zoramthanga were also present during signing of agreement. “I want to thank Narendra Modiji and Amit Shahji for ending this crisis. Nobody was rey to think about future of Bru refugees. This step is historic,” said CM Biplab Dev.  

North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) chief Himanta Biswa Sarma, who was also present, said Bru refugees will enjoy all facilities. Zoramthanga h said pact will permanently solve 25-year-old "burning issue." "Today we have signed an important agreement with Bru leers and Government of Tripura and Government of Mizoram. This will permanently solve burning issue that has been going on for 25 years," he said. 

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Bru Refugees 

Ethnically different from Mizos, with ir own distinct language and dialect, Brus are spre across Tripura, Mizoram, and parts of sourn Assam. Earlier, y h demanded an Autonomous District Council (C), under 6th Schedule of Constitution, in western Mizoram. In 1997, y h to flee to Tripura from Mizoram. At least, 5,000 families comprising around 30,000 Bru tribals were forced to leave state. 

Centre has been making efforts to rehabilitate se refugees since 2010.  Centre has been assisting governments of Mizoram and Tripura for taking care of refugees. Till 2014, 1,622 Bru families returned to Mizoram in different batches. 

aid provided to se families was increased substantially, in July 209=18 after an agreement was signed between two states, Centre representatives of Bru refugees. Following this development, at least 328 families comprising of 1,369 individuals returned to Mizoram under  2018 agreement. However, owing to security concerns, re has been a consisted demand from Bru families to resettle in Tripura since n.  

(With ANI Inputs)

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