DIMAPUR, JANUARY 29 (MExN): Even as the meeting of North East political parties voiced their dissent against the Citizenship Amendment Bill today, Nagaland’s ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and the opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) expressed differing views on whether the state is protected from the repercussions of the bill.
Both parties sent respective delegations to the meeting, and while expressing opposition to the bill, aired varying views on Nagaland state’s status with regard to the issue.
Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister, TR Zeliang expressed skepticism at the Nagaland Government’s reasoning that Article 371A and the Inner Line Permit (ILP) would safeguard the state.
Zeliang was accompanied by Naga People’s Front (NPF) legislators and leaders including Imkong L Imchen, Kuzholuzo Neinu, Y Vikheho Swu, Yitachu, CL John, Dr Chumben Murry, Apong Pongener, and Achumbemo Kikon.
“I am strongly convinced that ILP only provides access to outsiders for inward travel into North-East States (Eg: Nagaland) and does not touch upon the subject of granting citizenship to a foreigner who has resided in India for a certain period of time (6 years under the Citizenship Amendment Bill),” the former CM stated.
Stating that there is a “huge difference between Citizenship Amendment Bill and the ILP,” Zeliang noted that acquiring citizenship of a particular Country and obtaining permission for access to a particular region of the Country are two completely different issues.
Referring to Dimapur, he pointed out that the town is not under the ambit of the ILP regulations and undocumented immigrants have flooded the district. “Not only Dimapur, illegal immigrants have infiltrated even the most interior part of the State. Going by this reality, we cannot wholly rely on BEFR 1873 or ILP Regulations and to say that ILP safeguards the people from the Citizenship Amendment Bill is unreasonable,” he stated.
Meanwhile, with regard to Article 371(A) of the Indian Constitution, Zeliang noted that this provision is “in no way connected to the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016.”
“There is no mention of Citizenship in the said Article and after the Citizenship Amendment Bill is passed in the Rajya Sabha and becomes an Act, the hope of using Article 371(A) as ammunition to oppose the Act will be a long, expensive and futile exercise. The same thing may apply to Assam Accord or Mizo Accord,” he stated.
As an example, the CM pointed out that even the Rules & Regulations for extraction and exploration of Petroleum & Natural Gas framed by the Government of Nagaland based on Article-371(A) is under litigation till date.
“Now, how can one be so sure that Article-371(A) will protect the citizens of Nagaland from influx of immigrants who will be granted Indian citizenship once the Citizenship Amendment Bill becomes an Act?” Zeliang questioned, adding that “the time to act is now or never.”
He further stated that the NPF “unequivocally refuses to accept the Citizenship Amendment Bill,” and called upon all the parties present to come together and oppose the bill.
Meanwhile, President of the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) Chingwang Konyak affirmed the party’s belief that the “Nagaland is protected by special provisions of the Constitution of India under Article 371 (A) and the ILP Regime as per the Bengal Frontier Regulation Act.
“The provisions enshrined in the Constitution of India under Article 371 (A) protects the State of Nagaland with special safeguards and our party will forever stand guard to ensure that the provisions of the Constitution are upheld at all costs,” he asserted.
The NDPP President was accompanied by party leaders including Neiba Ndang, Chuba Chang, Nungsang Aier, TL Murry and Tali Pongen.
Pointing out that the Government of India has recognized the unique history of the Naga people, he cautioned that with the Indo-Naga political negotiations going through a crucial stage, the present scenario should not be negatively impacted in any manner.
He further stated that the NDPP has maintained a “consistent and clear stand” on the issue and stated that the state government had “objected to the CAB by writing to the Central Government to review the bill through a Cabinet decision, which was further reiterated by the Nagaland Cabinet on the inapplicability of the bill in Nagaland due to special protection and safeguards.”
Stating that the January 28 cabinet decision to reject the CAB was taken “in response to the will and desire of the people,” he also reminded that the PDA government had earlier urged the Government of India to hold consultations with all NE states so that the rights and privileges of the indigenous people of the region are safeguarded and protected.
He further expressed the PDA’s and NDPP’s solidarity with all the NE states and assured that the “concerns of our neighbors are a collective responsibility and we should all take up the issue in a united manner in the greater interest of our people.”
