Kohima, August 3 (MExN): The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has demanded the “revocation of the de-reservation” of Dimapur area and for it to be placed at par with the “rest of other areas for uniform enforcement of ILP and all other protective provisions kept in the Constitution of India without delay.”
The NTC stated this in a letter to the Chief Minister of Nagaland from NTC General Secretary Nribemo Ngullie and its President Lendinoktang Ao. It called for the extension of the Bengal Eastern Regulation Act of 1873 also called Inner line Permit (ILP) to the “entire administrative jurisdiction” of Nagaland State.
Going through the history of the State, the NTC noted that the purpose of providing special provisions was to “insulate Nagaland and its indigenous inhabitants from undue exploitations and possible suppression by outsiders.”
Thus, partial enforcement of such provisions, it stated, “negates the objectivity of the protective laws of the land.” The ILP regime currently applies to all districts of Nagaland State except Dimapur.
“Dimapur has become the buffer zone for the massive migration of illegal immigrants besides being the launching ground for their exploitive activities against the interest of the indigenous Nagas of Nagaland. Over the decades, we have allowed the free flow of the floating population into the restricted State of Nagaland through Dimapur area, and now our state is being filled by doubtful entities,” claimed the Council.
The NTC warned that if the population influx continues at the same rate, the “the indigenous Nagas of Nagaland will become secondary citizens and servants to the floating population in all respect sooner than expected.”
Alleging that agencies of the State Government are responsible for opening the “flood gate” for “unwanted population,” the NTC asked for them to “wake up” before it is too late.
It also reminded the Government of Nagaland that when the Government of Assam intensifies its National Register of Citizens process, Nagaland will become a “soft target” as a “convenient haven” for those “rejected.”
In view of the ongoing trends, “Nagaland is facing the most vulnerable phase lest the Government acts befittingly,” warned the Council.
