AGARTALA, Nov 26 (TIWN): BJP Govt’s brutality in dealing with Bru/Reang refugees humanitarian crisis after stopping free ration from October month resulted in massive starvation related illness, over 50 hospitalizations, over 6 starvation deaths. Now rattled by pressures from opposition parties and public, BJP Govt started temporary rations which set to end on Nov 30th, 2019. So the question raised what will happen to Bru/renag refugees after Nov 30 ? Also public statewide questioning Biplab Deb’s apathy in dealing Bru/reang crisis as CM got time for every Sunday lunches to political campaigns even in West Bengal but no time to meet Bru/renag starvation victims in Kanchanpur. Even though Central BJP Govt mulling over Pradyot Manikya’s proposal of providing permanent residentship for Bru/renags but State Govt’s apathy towards Bru/Reang issue exposed BJP’s inhuman side. Only after all Opposition leaders, Social Activists visited starving Bru agitation spot, welcomed their protest for ‘Right to live’ and ‘Food Safety Act 2013, after that under public pressure Minister Ratan Lal with other Ministers visited Kanchanpur Bru/renag camps.

When Pradyot Deb Barman has visited the Bru led road blockade at Asharambari where many have become ill and 6 persons including a child breathed their last. Meeting the Brus, Pradyot Deb Barman said that nobody has to go back to Mizoram. 

Around 500 women along with their children were seen on agitation against the inhuman decision of scrapping free ration supplies. 

At the same time, the BJP led State Govt continues to push the Brus whose surnames are maximum Reang to Mizoram back whereas after few families physically travelled for Mizoram experienced horrifying outcomes and unwelcoming attitude of the Mizoram Govt. The given promise was not even filled to satisfy the needs of the Brus and in this situation after 22 years of refugee like lives, the Brus have demanded to stay on the soil of Tripura as many children, youths are among them who born here. 

CPI-M leaders visited Bru camps : On November 4, CPI-M top leaders former MP Jitendra Chowdhury, ADC CEM Radhacharan Debbarma visited the spot where the Reang community’s people sat on protest demanding food.Bru community people are blocking roads in Kanchanpur as food are not coming in refugee camps from Ration since October 1. It has came to know that a child of 6 and an old man of 70 years have already died out of food. 

https://youtu.be/ULlSoVJ6vbg  Click TIWN YouTube link to see Pradyot Manikya's promise to Brus

The former MP asked, why doesn’t the Chief Minister who often rides helicopter to visit Sani puja, Kali puja has no time to visit Kanchanpur today ?

Chaudhury described how in Mizoram the Govt totally violated the given promise and has no welcoming attitudes, treating them as burdens. Also they were given the worst lands in scattered manners. No free home was given and asked to buy all items to build homes.

He also asked why the Central Ministers are not coming in Tripura now who are used to travel here in Election times.

6 people allegedly in starvation in the Bru camps where Reang people are residing for long 22 years, suddenly ratioing was stopped to them as denied to go back to Mizoram.

Congress alleged it is violation of Food Security Act 2013 : The Congress has demanded strict action against the Officers who have been involved in this illegal activity including Chief Minister by cutting supply of rations. “Ofcourse the officers have committed legal mistakes, but we believe without Chief Minister’s order, they have not done so. This is not just a matter of illegal action against innocents but too the violation of Human Rights and Food Safety Act 2013, which was introduced by UPA Govt and all political parties in 2013 supported the bill. Even BJP too supported but the then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi did not support it but later taking U-turn he supported it after he became Prime Minister in 2014. Amid PM's support, how after 6 years, people in Tripura, including children are dying in starvation ?", said Congress in a statement.

The National Food Security Act, 2013 (also Right to Food Act) is an Act of the Parliament of India which aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two thirds of India's 1.2 billion people. It was signed into law on 12 September 2013, retroactive to 5 July 2013. The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA 2013) converts into legal entitlements for existing food security programmes of the Government of India. 

It includes the Midday Meal Scheme, Integrated Child Development Services scheme and the Public Distribution System. Further, the NFSA 2013 recognizes maternity entitlements. The Midday Meal Scheme and the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme are universal in nature whereas the PDS will reach about two-thirds of the population (75% in rural areas and 50% in urban areas).

Under the provisions of the bill, beneficiaries of the Public Distribution System (or, PDS) are entitled to 5 kilograms (11 lb) per person per month of cereals at the following prices:

Rice at ?3 (4.3¢ US) per kg

Wheat at ?2 (2.9¢ US) per kg

Coarse grains (millet) at ?1 (1.4¢ US) per kg.

Pregnant women, lactating mothers, and certain categories of children are eligible for daily free cereals.

According to PTI report, an organisation of Bru refugees living in Tripura claimed that a four-month-old baby died in a relief camp on Monday taking the total number of people losing their lives “because of starvation” to six and three other inmates have been hospitalised.

The displaced people continued with their road blockade for the fifth day demanding resumption of free ration and cash-dole to them, which the Centre has stopped since October following commencement of the repatriation of the refugees to their homeland Mizoram.

They also said free rations and cash-dole will not be resumed as per the order of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

“Six people died and three persons were hospitalised due to deprivation of free ration and cash-dole by the Centre from October due to the ongoing repatriation scheduled to be concluded on November 30,” Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum (MBDPF) said.

INPT leaders also have visited today at the Bru refugee camp.

What the Brus want ?

After residing in Tripura for long 22 years, the Brus / Reang Community now wants to stay in Tripura only as Mizoram is becoming a land of suffocation for them, without any safety-assurance.Bru leaders said today, these Bru community’s people also belong to Tripura because during Dumboor hydro projects many became landless and went to Mizoram and from Mizoram they came to Tripura, because they know this place.Also they asked, if Chakma community’s people came from Bangladesh after 1971 are residing here, why not the Brus ?The Brus also asked, what about those children of Brus who never visited Mizoram and born in the soil of Tripura ?“They are just suffocated of their lives as refugees in the camps. They are also Indians, why to treat them as outsiders ?”, said the Bru leader demanding Citizenships of Tripura. 

After meeting the Bru Community’s people at the agitation place, who are starving as Govt stopped rationing to the people from October month, former MP, Gana Mukti Parishad (GMP) chief Jitendra Chaudhury has slammed the Govt of Tripura, Central Govt and also the Mizoram Govt for inhumanity with the Brus.