NSF members and students at the sit-in protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 at Raj Bhavan, Kohima on May 21. (Morung Photo)
Protests demanding recall of controversial Bill held in four NE states
Morung Express News
Kohima | May 21
Lending support to the voices of dissent over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, hundreds of student activists staged demonstrations today across three northeast states under the aegis of the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO).
The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) joined the protest with a sit-in at Raj Bhavan, Kohima. A memorandum was later submitted to the Governor of Nagaland.
The bill is an amendment of the Citizenship Act 1955, which will allow illegal immigrants belonging to any religious minority group that is Hindu, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan eligible for citizenship by naturalisation within six years of residence. The Bill was introduced on July 19, 2016 by the Government of India.
Expressing worry over the infiltration of illegal immigrants in the North East region, NSF General Secretary Imtiyapang Imsong stated that the Bill is a threat to the very existence of indigenous peoples in the region of North East. “What Government of India is saying is that they come to India due to persecution but if you look closely in all these countries there is rarely any religious persecution,” mentioned Imsong adding that the Bill will provide an easier access for illegal immigrants.
“We will not accept any law which will take away our rights as indigenous people. It is a threat to our national security and a threat to our own existence. NE is not a dumping zone for the illegal immigrants. It is a complete mockery of the constitution of India,” stated Imsong.
Taking the case of Tripura, Imtiyapang pointed out that a few decades back the population of illegal immigrants was just 20 to 30 percent but today the reverse can be seen where the indigenous population is being reduced to 30 percent.
“We are struggling a lot with illegal immigration. They are dominating our economy and this bill will be a boon for them to settle in our land. We believe this protest is for our future. We may not get immediate action but it is a good step and we hope that more people will join this cause,” stated two students from St. Joseph’s college at the protest.
An important feature of the Bill is the relaxation of residence in India from 11 years to only six years which means an immigrant can acquire citizenship by naturalisation within six years of residence in India.
The Bill will allow the eligibility of citizenship for illegal immigrants on the basis of religion which may violate the Article 14 of the Indian Constitution guaranteeing the right to equality. Further the Bill will allow the cancellation of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registration for violation of any law.
A memorandum submitted to the Rajendra Agarwal, Member of Parliament, Chairman, Joint Committee on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 through the Nagaland Governor also maintained that the crisis arising out of the unabated influx of illegal migrants from Bangladesh has brought about serious demographic changes in the North East region in particular, and other parts of the country in general.
The continued and unabated influx of refugees and undocumented migrants from the neighbouring countries has further threatened the existence of indigenous people in respect to their cultural, social, economic and political identity, the memo read.
In Itanagar, members of the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) said they would continue the stir till the time the government concedes to their demands. AAPSU President Hawa Bagang said the Centre had no regard for the indigenous people of the region.
“The proposed bill is one among the many examples that show the lawmakers in our country have no or very little regard for the indigenous populace of Arunachal Pradesh and the entire northeast region,” he said.
The AAPSU would organize more such democratic movements, under the aegis of Northeast Students’ Organization (NESO), in the interest of the indigenous people, Bawang asserted.
The Bangladeshi refugees, who have been residing illegally in our state, would be asked to leave, he said. “We will soon serve notices to all the Bangladeshis, who have sneaked into our state, after the National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft was released in Assam,” the AAPSU president said.
Echoing similar sentiments, the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) urged the legislators of Mizoram to adopt a resolution to reject the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016. Students in Imphal too held the agitation today under the banner of All Manipur Student Union (AMSU). The protest was carried out at Keishampat Community Hall in Imphal.
A 16-member Joint Parliamentary Committee, headed by BJP MP Rajendra Agarwal, had recently conducted public hearings in Guwahati, Silchar in Assam and Shillong in Meghalaya to gather opinion of the masses on the proposed bill.
Agarwal, during a public hearing in Shillong on May 10, said the views and recommendations would be compiled in a report and submitted to Parliament.
(With inputs from PTI, Newmai News Network)
