Kohima, January 21 (MExN): The Nagaland University Teachers' Association (NUTA) has registered its protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) passed by the Lok Sabha and appealed to the President of India, also the Visitor of the University, to “abstain from granting his assent if the said Bill is passed by the Rajya Sabha.”
This position was stated in a press release from NUTA President, Prof. Rosemary Dzuvichu, and its Secretary General, Prof. D Kuolie.
Concerned by the impact of the CAB on the indigenous people of Nagaland, the NUTA stated that the CAB is “not secular, as it envisages granting citizenship to immigrants /foreigners from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan based on religion and has lowered the years to enable faster recognition.” It cited the Joint Parliamentary Committee’s report, in turn citing the Intelligence Bureau, tabled in Parliament which reportedly states, “around 31,313 immigrants would stand to immediately benefit from the proposed amendment out of which 25,447 are Hindus and it is evident that religion will form the basis of citizenship.”
Moreover, “The Bill will change the total demographics of the North East region, including Nagaland, which has been facing the onslaught of illegal immigrants.”
The NUTA also argued that the provisions of Article 371 (A) cannot enable the Nagaland Legislative Assembly to “stop such a Citizenship law after it becomes an Act.” The Inner Line Permit (ILP) system is also “inconsistent as it excludes the biggest commercial nerve centre of the state, Dimapur, which has,” allegedly “been flooded with illegal immigrants till date.”
Therefore, the “stand of the State Government of Nagaland is most unfortunate” in the present case, the NUTA lamented.
“In a state and region which is reeling under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, the CAB is another onslaught and destruction of the identity of indigenous people by the powers that be,” affirmed the NUTA while urging the Nagaland State Government to “strictly implement the ILP, inclusive of Dimapur, and protect the rights of the people, as elected representatives, irrespective of partisan politics, by ensuring the CAB does not become a law in the state.”
