Kohima, January 18 (MExN): The Naga People's Front (NPF) has condemned the press statement issued by NDPP Media & Communication Committee that appeared on January 18 in the local dailies.
Press Bureau, NPF, Central Headquarter, Kohima in a rejoinder asserted that the “NDPP should clarify why the government of the day is not opposing but supporting the controversial Bill when the whole of Naga people including other parts of Northeastern region is making much hue and cry over the Bill.”
The rejoinder stated that it was a desperate attempt to further confuse and brainwash the Nagas.
"NDPP acting as the guardian of law and seeking to project Article 371 A as the ultimate cure that can protect the Nagas from this controversial Bill has proved futile," stated the release, pointing out that the NDPP was “not the interpreter nor the guardian of the Indian Constitution,” and that it has “no right to even try explaining to the Naga People” when Nagaland Chief Minister and his Cabinet had decided not to oppose the Bill.
The NPF wondered why the NDPP instead of supporting and protecting its people, was continuously feeding the Naga people with wrong interpretation of Article 371 (A) and BEFRA.
NPF further sought answers from the NDPP whether the Village institutions or the Village Councils are the sole authority of “granting Citizenship to an illegal immigrants or outsiders” as claimed by them. "Once the Bill is enacted as an Act of law, can the NDPP stop any foreign settler of Hindu religion who have settled in our state for a period of six years from obtaining the Indian citizenship?" the release questioned.
Once the Bill is passed, Nagaland cannot be exceptional as any other foreigner settling in any part of the Country for a period of six years who can obtain the Indian citizenship.
It cautioned that Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) directly undermined Article 371 A, as the Article itself cannot override the Constitution of India, and thus “NDPP should stop making a spectacle of themselves, trying to sow seeds of confusion” in the minds of the Nagas.
“NDPP should not forget that Rio was the NPF MP to Lok Sabha when this Bill was introduced in the Parliament in 2016, but he did not bother to do anything,” it said.
If the NDPP takes into consideration that the Bill should not be applicable in the state of Nagaland in line with the Article 371 (A), “did the Chief Minister, former Lok Sabha MP and the present Lok Sabha MP Tokheho Yepthomi raise in the parliament that Nagaland be exempted from such Bill under the provision of the Article 371 (A)?” NPF questioned.
Taking all these into consideration, it reminded the NDPP that MP Tokheho was an MP when the Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on January 8.
At the behest of pleasing the Central leaders, the NDPP led PDA Government should not fool the Naga people of the cabinet decision on June 5, 2018 when the PDA team led by Chief Minister had met the Prime Minister and Home Minister and committed that Nagaland PDA Government had decided not to oppose the Bill.
The NPF party reminded the people that it will always stand with the principles of regionalism to protect and safeguard the rights of the Nagas and therefore, the NPF MP to Rajya Sabha will remain faithful and vote against the Bill come what may.
It said that the NPF did not raise the issue merely as an opposition party to the Government, but taking into consideration the magnitude and severity of the Bill that is going to place the Naga people in a precarious state in the near future.
It requested the NDPP not to politicize the issue but to take up the matter for future of the Nagas.
