AGARTALA, Feb 18 � Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday appealed the Reang refugees sheltered in six refugee camps in North Tripura�s Kanchanpur subdivision to return home to Mizoram for a lasting solution to their vexed problem.
Chidambaram, who visited a Bru refugee camp at Gachirampara to know their problems, spoke to refugee leaders at length. At the meeting, refugee leaders said, �We want to return to our ancestral homes but rehabilitation is needed for that�.
After giving a patient hearing, the Union Minister told the refugees to go back to their homeland for a lasting solution to the problem as well as resuming life afresh. On the rehabilitation, Chidambaram said the Centre would extend all possible help to refugees for their permanent settlement.
Later, Chidambaram held a meeting with State Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and discussed the problems related to the Bru refugees. Shortly after the meeting, Chidambaram told reporters that he had visited refugee camp and discussed with refugee leaders.
Chidambaram said that he had told them to go back to their homeland at the earliest for permanent solution to the problem because the problem will not be solved unless they get back home.
He further said, �One can�t spend entire life at refugee camp. The DoNER has already sanctioned Rs 23 crore for rehabilitation of Bru refugees and you people must cash in on the benefits�.
