Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland, Y Patton addressing the Non Naga communities of Dimapur on December 13, at Police Mess Chümoukedima Dimapur. (DIPR Photo)
Nagaland Government holds meeting with non-Naga communities to discuss extension of ILP in Dimapur
Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 13
The Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister, Y Patton, who is also the State Home Minister, today assured that Indian citizens would not be harassed because of ILP and also re-iterated that ILP will not be issued to foreigners.
He said this while addressing a meeting with regard to extension of ILP to the entire district of Dimapur convened with various non Naga communities of Dimapur on December 13 at the Police Mess, Chümoukedima, Dimapur.
A non-Naga communities forum in Dimapur, meanwhile, appealed to the Nagaland Government to acknowledge its contributions and to consider their citizenship right in the state with “equal respect and dignity while inking the final draft of the ILP.”
According to a DIPR report, Patton appealed to the various organizations to cooperate with the Government of Nagaland and advised them not to give protection to illegal immigrants. He further assured the various non-Naga communities that no NGO nor student body would harass them with regard to ILP as the government will be taking care of the said issue.
"If anybody comes and harasses with regard to ILP you report to the government,” Patton was quoted by the DIPR as stating.
He meanwhile urged the non Naga communities of the state to be “good messengers between the Government of Nagaland and Government of India.”
“We will also do our best to protect you and we will work collectively,” Patton maintained.
Chief Secretary Nagaland Temjen Toy, IAS said that the Government was equally concerned about all citizens of India and for which such consultative meetings are held. He added that the main reason for coming up with ILP notification was to maintain peace and tranquility and sought the cooperation of all, the DIPR report added.
The meeting was attended by Assamese Samaj Dimapur, Agarwal Samaj Dimapur, Brahmin Samaj Dimapur, Bengali Samaj Dimapur, Bihari Samaj Dimapur, Bhojpuri Samaj Dimapur, Nagaland Gorkha Association Kohima, Gurdwara Sriguru Singh Sabha Dimapur, SD Jain Samaj Dimapur, Maheshwari Samaj Dimapur, Meitei Samaj Dimapur, Muslim Council Dimapur, Oswal Samaj Dimapur.
The Home Commissioner, DC Dimapur, Commissioner of Police Dimapur and other government officials also attended the meeting.
The various organizations also submitted memorandums to the Deputy CM.
'Equal respect and dignity in ILP final draft'
Meanwhile speaking to The Moung Express, the Shree Marwari Samaj Dimapur acknowledged that the imposition of ILP in Dimapur was in the best interest of the indigenous inhabitants of the state.
The forum’s president, Om Prakash Sethi and General Secretary, Basu Damani however pointed out that like other non Naga communities the Marwari community has been staying in Dimapur since the 19th century. They said that “like any other citizen of Nagaland, we have equally suffered and witnessed the impasse during and before the political peace talks.”
The forum appealed to the Nagaland Government to acknowledge the contributions made by the Marwari community to the state, and to consider their citizenship right in the state with “equal respect and dignity while inking the final draft of the ILP.”
It further requested that Indian citizens residing in Nagaland should be considered as citizens of Nagaland provided they can prove their Indian citizenship and prove their stay as permanent residents of Nagaland with their names being found in the voters list, at least in the district of Dimapur. It also requested that the “spouse of Dimapur residents, who are mostly from different parts of India, should also have equal rights.”
The forum further suggested that “like the European Ward in Shillong, the non Naga legal citizens should have the rights of purchase of land in the municipal areas of Dimapur and all other rights like that of any other respectable and legal citizens of the State.” It meanwhile assured “full devotion and dedication for the cause of Nagaland.”
Also speaking to The Morung Express, Dr. Khekugha Murru, Chairman of Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce & Industry said bringing Dimapur under ILP ambit was a long-standing demand of the people and welcomed the step. He however said implementing ILP in Dimapur should not cause inconvenience to the genuine Indian citizens and hoped for a peaceful transition.
“In a globalized economy we cannot seclude ourselves and given the fact that a huge number of construction labourers come to our state from neighbouring towns, there should be a mechanism to facilitate daily entry and exit of these labourers,” he said. Dr. Murru opined that daily stamping system of ILP can be introduced by the implementing agencies at all entry and exit points of the state.
He said ILP was a failure in the past and if the implementing agencies remain the same then ILP in Dimapur is also bound to fail. In this regard, he suggested empowering local bodies to some extent in implementing the system and at the same time impose certain actions upon those local bodies that default while implementing the system.
Dr. Murru said the CNCCI is willing to assist the government for effective implementation of ILP in the state.
A DCCI official also commenting on the issue said that imposition of ILP in Dimapur was a welcome step but was apprehensive of the same being a failure if the local bodies were not empowered to a certain extent in its implementation. The official was of the view that given the past experience, the government agencies alone were not strong enough to implement the system on ground and called for roping in local bodies for effective implementation.
