DIMAPUR, JULY 16 (MExN): The NPF Legislature Party today informed that it has decided to abstain from attending the July 17 consultative meet called by the Nagaland State Government on the Registry of Indigenous Inhabitants (RIIN).
The party’s decision was based on the “indifferent attitude of the PDA Government in dealing with sensitive issues including the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) and Registry of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN),” informed a press note from NPF Legislature Party Spokesperson, Imkong L Imchen.
“The PDA Government has the propensity for inviting public organisations and civil societies for consultations only after adopting resolutions and issuing government notification(s). This irresponsible attitude of the PDA Government in dealing with stakeholders is nothing short of sheer disregard and insult to the sentiments and opinions of the people,” it said.
The party added that the enumeration process prepared by government functionaries “cannot be accurate and wholly reliable without the contribution of village councils and GBs of respective villages including the student community as highlighted by NPF President, Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu.”
It said that the PDA government should deliver on its promise to implement ILP in Dimapur District instead of “diverting the attention of the people with RIIN.” “When the looming threat is from the burgeoning population of IBIs, there is no logical explanation as to why the government desires to invest time and energy on RIIN instead of ILP,” it stated.
Stating that the “very purpose of consultation was defeated the same day the State Government notified that the RIIN process would be undertaken and completed within 3 months,” the NPF Legislature Party said that if the government is serious about consultations, it should immediately cancel/revoke all notifications and orders for implementation of the RIIN.
Only then, said the party, should invitation be issued for a threadbare deliberation on the matter. “Otherwise, the NPF Legislature Party will not be party to some damage-control and image-saving exercise in the form of a ‘Consultative Meet’ as was done in the case of CAB where only after three cabinet decisions supporting the CAB, a consultative meeting was convened at Chumukedima,” it stated.
The NPF Legislature Party further stated that it is deeply disappointed with the treatment meted out to the party by merely equating the principal opposition legislature party in the State, to that of a civil society even in matters of utmost State importance.
