New Delhi, August 21: The All India Chakma Students’ Union (AICSU), the apex students body of the Chakmas of India, welcomed the resignation of Dr Buddha Dhan Chakma, Minister of State of Sericulture and Fisheries who is the only Chakma minister in the Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla Cabinet. Dr BD Chakma has resigned today in protest against the denial of MBBS seats to four Chakma students who have qualified in the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) this year and secured seats as per the merit list under Mizoram state quota.
In his resignation letter submitted to Chief Minister Lalthanhawla today, Dr BD Chakma stated that the four Chakma students who have qualified under NEET-2017 from Mizoram state quota were called for counseling on 20 July 2017 by the Higher and Technical Education Department of Mizoram government but on the same day, just after the completion of the said counseling and without providing any reason thereof, the whole process of counseling was cancelled by the Commissioner, Higher and Technical Education Department and called for a fresh re-counseling.
The four Chakma students who have been qualified in NEET are, Darshan Chakma, son of Sunity Ranjan Chakma , Nibir Chakma, son of Joy Kumar Chakma, Mini Chakma, daughter of Pritimoy Chakma and Nibhir Tongchangya, son of Kamal Kumar Tongchangya.
“On 26th July 2017, Pu R. Romawia, Hon’ble Minister of Higher and Technical Education Department, Govt. of Mizorma, in his press statement clearly stated that the state’s MBBS quota would be reserved exclusively for Zo-ethnic people of Mizoram. From his press statement it is clear that he is not going to give any MBBS seat to non-Zo ethnic students and it indicates a clear denial of MBBS seats to those four meritorious Chakma students and this is not acceptable by me,” Dr BD Chakma stated in his resignation letter submitted to the Chief Minister of Mizoram.
“The cancellation of MBBS seats after allocation to the four meritorious Chakma students by the Mizoram government following undue pressure from the non state actors is totally illegal and unjustified. The Chakmas of Mizoram are facing a very hard time due to racial discrimination against them by the State. Hence we welcome the resignation of our lone minister Dr BD Chakma to send across a strong message. Mizoram government should respect merit of the students and the NEET results.” – stated Mr Dilip Kanti Chakma, President, All India Chakma Students’ Union (AICSU).
