DIMAPUR, AUGUST 24 (MExN): The Konyak Union today expressed discontent at the incidences where “Konyaks of Myanmar were restricted from coming to Mon town to acquire their basic essential food commodities for non possession of Aadhaar card.”
A press note from the KU President, Honang Konyak and Vice President, Manlip Konyak lamented on the existence of the imaginary lines that divide the Konyak people into two international halves, and stated that even Longwa village can be of nearest example where its citizens are settled in two international halves.
The KU said it was informed later that that “frisking was done on Independence Day security reason and it shall not be continued.” However it opined that such restriction on non possession of Aadhar card should not be repeated or be imposed within its jurisdiction.
It meanwhile slated the policy of the central government for making Adhaar card as mandatory. “On 9th June 2017, Supreme Court’s loosely worded judgement has given the government the necessary ammunition to link more welfare and non welfare mechanism with Aadhaar. However, the verdict which states that ‘we will also make it clear that the Aadhaar card scheme is purely voluntary and it cannot be made mandatory till the matter is finally decided by this court on way or the other.’ Such statement should be upheld on priority,” it said.
The sole purpose of Aadhar card is to ascertain/legitimise the actual beneficiary for direct benefit transfer, the KU noted. It reasoned that issuance of such unique identity number has nothing to do in disciplining the citizen “when such numbers are provided to any immigrants randomly.”
It meanwhile also appealed to the NBCC to be cautious of the unique identity number. “Today the core objectives of the Aadhar card is made simply to avail services and benefits, Nagaland being a Christian state, NBCC should rethink and act on the issuance of the unique identity number based on the biblical context,” it said.
“The concept of a direct benefit transfer is applaudable but practically not possible as it requires time,” it opined and said that the remoteness and backwardness of the region should be taken into consideration while executing any policies. “We cannot go in parallel with the mainland Indians. Konyak public in particular or Nagas in general should not be victimised on such hurried and rushed policy,” it said.
It meanwhile also viewed that the Aadhaar policy “invades our Right to privacy.” “Such policy intrudes our human dignity, privacy & rights. When no safety assurance had been issued through a constitutional bench, Nagaland government should conduct thorough research on its implication upon the Naga rights, custom, norms and practices,” it added.
Referring to Article 371 A of the Constitution, the KU said that with a special provision being envisaged under the Indian constitution, the State Government should seriously ponder and act in accordance with the special provision or else we are pumping off our own rights.
“When no act of parliament until so decides through state legislation can be made applicable, the state Government need to be serious as to how Adhar card policy were readily accepted,” it said.
The Nagaland Government, it posed, “may instead have its separate Naga identification code if at all it has to link with its beneficiaries in availing welfare scheme.”
The KU meanwhile called for an “intellectual awakening” and appealed to every Naga scholar, lawyer, intellectual and politician to seriously ponder upon the unique identity numbers and its implication upon Naga society and aspiration. “Our dream for self determination is at stake,” it cautioned.
The KU further directed that “no institution within Konyak jurisdiction can enforce Aadhaar card as mandatory.”
