‘This Act is against my Constitution’ echoes loud at ‘Nagaland against CAA' rally

Volunteers participate in the ‘Nagaland against CAA’ protest rally at Supermarket, Dimapur on January 18. (Photo Courtesy: Soreishim Mahong)

 

Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 18 

Freedom from social evils and ardent resolve to safeguard constitutional values echoed loudly today in Dimapur’s busy Supermarket area as hundreds of like-minded individuals, mostly students came together to voice out against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in a peaceful rally. 

'Nagaland Against CAA’ rally was the culmination of an online page in the namesake formed about 2 weeks back to hold a “strictly apolitical and peaceful” protest without any “political colour” to show their solidarity with the rest of the country.

Conscientious citizens as well as curious onlookers dropped in and out throughout the day-long (10am-4pm) rally. The attendees, pre-dominantly youth and college students in and around Dimapur, unequivocally had one voice- CAA is against the values and ethos enshrined in the Constitution of India. 

This is not only a protest against CAA, but awakening of social consciousness, maintained a speaker at the rally.  “If we only shout in social media, the government would never hear us,” he added. 

Highlighting the protests across India, especially campuses and the month-long peaceful sit-in in New Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh, he asked: Why was Nagaland sleeping? Are you afraid of someone?

“We came out today,” replied the audience in chorus, asserting that they too stand in solidarity with protests across India against the Act considered “divisive” by different speakers throughout the day.  

Indeed,  an eye-opener for the leaders of Nagaland, of all types, he relented.

‘This act is against my constitution,’ stated another, as she took the stage and read out the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. She was not the last as others read out the Preamble many times throughout the day.

The common refrain was that the act was “divide and rule policy” and a divisionary tactics from the real issues such as economy, employment and other issues. 

Some politicians were also seen in attendance but conspicuously did not take the stage.  Instead it was representatives from various colleges, Nagaland University (Lumami & Kohima Campus) and members from different community in Dimapur and public, who took the stage.  

Apart from the generic slogans, “We oppose CAA” or “No NRC, No CAA,” the protestors came with various others slogans to drive home their points.  “Prioritise Poor Nagas, Not Foreigners” read one placard while another declared, “Baahubali ya Singham. No Means No. No CAA No NRC.” 

 

Youths at the forefront of protest 
In a sign that students in Nagaland are becoming politically conscious to issues surrounding India and they are not mere spectators to violence in campuses like JNU, Jamia, DU and AMU, many deplored the actions against students.   

A representative from a women college in Dimapur noted that it is the responsibility of government of the day to provide jobs, employment, instead of creating division. 

Further questioning the varying stand on identity documents in India, she asked if Aadhaar Card is considered as “Aam Aadmi ka adhikari” (rights of common people), why they are saying it’s not a valid identity documents now, she added. 

Thereafter, she rendered the popular  Varun Grover’s poem ‘Hum Kagez Nahi Dekhayeni (I will not show my papers), to the delight of those gathered. 

Division on the basis of religion and curbing dissenting voices were underscored and flayed.  

A student representative asked leaders to be aware that students are observing their actions, or lack of it. 

Speaking on the sideline of the event to The Morung Express, the Convenor of Assamese Community in Nagaland, M Rehman  lauded the organiser –youth and students – for successfully organising the first-ever rally on social issues and politics. 

Sharing his opinion on CAA, he said, “Government is only trying to fool us by saying that ILP is going to be implemented, so we don’t have to worry about for CAA. Whereas the truth is that once a person gets citizenship anywhere in the country; they can simply apply for ILP and come down to Nagaland and they can settle here.” 

Nagaland has been excluded from the purview of CAA because of the existing inner line permit (ILP) regime.  “When states like Punjab, Rajasthan and Kerala have not agreed to it, why we are agreeing, that’s a very big question we need to ask our politicians,” he added. 

He further underscored that majority of Assamese people are Hindu, but then also they are opposing. ‘It because they want to protect their unique identity and not to change the demography,’ he justified.  

CAA nothing short of attacking the very core of the Constitution 
Observing the event, a lecturer from a college said that “CAA is unconstitutional; it goes against the basic values enshrined in the constitution particularly those of equality before law and equal protection of law, non discrimination on the basis of religion, race, gender and the principle of secularism upon which the country's foundation was laid.”

 “The act is nothing short of attacking the very core of the constitution and therefore should be repealed and rejected totally,” he said. 

He further questioned the hypocrisy of the government to talk of persecuted minorities in other countries “while India’s own minorities are being persecuted for what they eat, for what they wear and believed in.”

Another lecturer, Z Tunye likened the rally to a “town hall meeting sans the representatives of the people.”

 In a society where the representatives of the people have abandoned their core responsibilities, the people have come out to take up the responsibility to fill the vacuum.  It was a wonderful exhibition of people rallying around to show their concern, anger and solidarity along with the rest of the country,” he added.

Amid speeches by student leaders and civil society members, songs, skits and on the spot painting competitions based on anti-CAA theme were held during the rally. 

One of the organiser, Kevitho Kera expressed satisfaction over the day’s outcome, though he expected more participation, given the overwhelming response on social media. 

In rally-ists also cleaned the venue before dispersing.