Imphal, February 11 (NNN): Four tribe councils - Inpui Naga Union (INU), Liangmai Naga Council (LNC), Zeme Naga Council (ZNC) and Rongmei Naga Council (RNC) - while making their positions clear against the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016, said that passing of the Bill by the government will endanger the indigenous peoples of the North Eastern region. The four tribe councils further said that the Bill, if it is passed, will also bring so many detrimental effects to the indigenous peoples of the North East region including their economies. “The proposed Bill is against the wishes of the people of the four tribes in particular and North Eastern region in general. Our rights, land, existence, culture and identity will be put at stake if it is passed,” the four Councils said.
According to the four tribe councils, having witnessed the influx of illegal migrants in some of the North Eastern states today, “if the Bill is passed and introduced, it will have huge negative impacts endangering the population and economy of the indigenous people of the region”. The four councils then stated that the government of the day “pushes for this Bill confirms the lukewarm mindset and attitude of the Centre towards the people of North East”.
The four councils, therefore, appealed to the “representative members” of the state in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and elected members of the state assembly to stand together with “our fellow North Eastern States and continue to oppose the passing of the Bill”.
