Colleges shutdown in Nagaland to protest CAA

Nagaland University Research Scholar's Forum (NURSF) protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act at the Nagaland University, Lumami Campus, Zunheboto on January 22. (Photo Courtesy: NUSRF)

Morung Express News
Mokokchung/Kohima | January 22 

Colleges across Nagaland heeded to the call made by the Northeastern Universities students' fraternity to shut down their institutes in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill on January 22. 

In Nagaland the All Nagaland College Students Union (ANCSU) had made the shutdown call.  

ANCSU president, Vimeyiekho Vitso, while speaking to the media said that although the Governor and the State Government has said that Nagaland is exempted from the purview of the CAA, the public is not convinced by the reasons shared. 

In Kohima, a protest rally was carried out by the students of St Josephs University, Jakhama outside the Raj Bhavan. 
Khriebeizo Mere, a final year student (Political Science) viewed that the CAA would destroy the definition of Secularism Indians so proudly uphold. 

Chumtiba S Sangtam, President Students Council, St. Joseph's College said that the CAA is against the constitution.

“Secularism is in great danger as this act is anti Muslims," Sangtam viewed, and said the government should work towards addressing the many challenges that the country faces today before addressing the problem of other countries.

The Nagaland University Research Scholar's Forum (NURSF) also observed the protest by totally shutting down the normal functioning of Nagaland University, Lumami Campus, Zunheboto.

Scholars in the campus actively participated in the protest and raised their resentment and displeasure against the CAA. The NSURF office said “the scholars community feels that there must be a sincere discourse on the matter from all responsible citizens." They added that the system and functioning of ILP needs to be changed and strengthened in the state. There might come a time when ILP and Article 371 (A) will be scrapped from the citizens and it will no longer help in protecting the citizens, they added.

The scholars staged the protest in front of the university administration block main gate and ended the protest by convening a meeting where the issue was discussed at length by the scholars.

SC declines to stay CAA-NPR
 

Gives Centre 4 weeks to file counter affidavit

New Delhi, January 22 (IANS): The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to pass any order to restrain the operation of Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) or National Population Register (NPR).

The top court gave four weeks time to the Centre to file counter affidavit and the hearing will take place in the fifth week.
A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde also indicated the probability of constituting a Constitution Bench to take up the matter on the next date of hearing. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) challenging the new law, urged the court to postpone the process for a few months.

However, Attorney General K.K. Venugopal opposed it saying it was equivalent to a stay.

"It means as good as granting stay on the operation of the law," said the AG. Then the Chief Justice said: "We aren't going to pass any such order today."

The apex court said that the anti-CAA petitions from Assam and Tripura will be heard separately. The top court observed that Assam's problem with CAA is different from rest of country in the backdrop of earlier cut off date for citizenship was March 24, 1971, which is under the newly amended citizenship law is Dec 31, 2014. Therefore, it is essential to segregate the Assam anti-CAA petitions for separate hearing from other pleas challenging CAA.

On a transfer petition filed by the Centre, the top court also restrained all High Courts from passing any rider on the CAA.
Senior advocate A.M. Singhvi cited that the UPA government had identified 40,000 to grant citizenship under the new law, and if the citizenship is granted then revoking it will be an irrevocable process.

The Chief Justice said there is a possibility to issue them some temporary permits for the time being. The AG contested it stating that the law itself talks about taking back the citizenship in certain situation.

"There are provisions to withdraw citizenship," said the AG. The AG also told the bench that the government has received copies of nearly 60 pleas out of 143 petitions. Therefore, it will be appropriate to grant some time period to reply to pleas which have not been served.