Dimapur, Jan. 16 (EMN): The Lotha Hoho on Wednesday termed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill of 2016 as “anti-Naga.”
According to the organisation, said Bill passed by the Lok Sabha on the Jan. 8 seems to be the ultimate concern for the minority ethnic people, especially of the Northeast India, and particularly for the Nagas. “But why do our Naga leaders not only keep mum but also do nothing to make use of the provisions available for protection of the Naga people whom they are representing? Or are our leaders leading us to doom?
“When the LS passed the Bill, what was our Nagaland MP doing? Did he raise any voice; even if not heeded? Why are the Naga tribal and other organisations keeping quiet and nothing? Of course, the Nagaland state has provisions such as BEFRA 1873, Article 371 A, 16- Point Agreement, to make use of for our protection. Whatever Constitutional provisions or Agreements that we may have, we need to make use of the provisions by ourselves and when asked/objected; to clarify and claim the provisions. Else who will come to offer us the benefits of the provisions?
“In fact all the provisions of 16-Pont Agreement need to be claimed by us and in particular Clause 1, 11,12 and 13 (to be under External Ministry, Financial Assistance, Restoration of Transferred Reserved Forests, Consolidation of Contiguous Naga Areas). When all these provisions are already available for us why waste time in negotiation? Just make use of the provisions and adhere to them since provisions are already written and available,” it stated.
It was of the view that “our Nagaland state leaders do not seem to care to know the provisions for our safeguard. Instead of making use of the provisions, our leaders become restless and in their hurry to please the Central leaders, accept Acts and policies without caring to ponder on the consequences of adopting such policies, e.g. the women reservation.
“In spite of having all the above provisions, Nagaland became the first state to adopt the 33% women reservation. Also when we have the Clause 12 of 16-Point Agreement, for Restoration/Transfer of Reserved Forests (taken out to Assam from Naga Hills earlier), back to Nagaland, why bother to counter in the Supreme Court in which Assam had filed a Litigation in 1998, for claims of Naga lands.
Concerning the Citizenship Bill, it stated that “even the world’s most powerful nation, the USA, which has one of the most liberal policies for immigrants, has shut down the govt. for the sake of building a wall across the Mexican border, so as to prevent immigrants crossing into the USA. What do we infer from such actions of other people? They all want protection from immigrants!
“…will the Naga leaders, in particular the Naga legislators, choose their people or BJP and money/power? Have we elected them to stand for our rights, our protection, our welfare, our identity or to hunt for money and power? The Naga leaders need to bear in mind that the Nagas have not elected them to argue among themselves; but to do our welfare and to protect us. Have our leaders done their part to do what the Naga people expect them to do for the Naga people? Yes, no problem for constructed arguments for the good of your people; but not for satisfying your personal ego and whims. The Naga people, whom you represent, are becoming more aware and many know much better than you do and so do not exhibit your negative attitudes, we are watching and observing you!
“The Lotha Hoho urges the Naga leaders to act before the Bill gets through the Rajya Sabha. Once the Bill gets through the Rajya Sabha no amount of Resentment will undo that which have been done by the parliaments,” the statement read.
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren said on Wednesday that his BJP-led coalition government will oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2018 until there was a clause to protect the indigenous communities of Manipur and other northeastern states.
Biren ahd recently took a team of state leaders to Delhi which submitted a memorandum to the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The minister is reported to have assured the representatives that interests of the N-E people will be protected.
Biren said his government is urging the Centre to get President's assent to the Manipur Peoples (Protection) Bill, 2018 which was passed by the Assembly a few months back. "The interest of north-east people should be safeguarded because the region has small communities," he added.
He said the stand of the Manipur government is clear: it will oppose the Citizenship Bill till full protection for the indigenous people is guaranteed and the Manipur Peoples (Protection) Bill, 2018 is given assent by the President.
Meanwhile, protests against the Citizenship Bill in parts of the state continued on Wednesday amid heavy police deployment.
Activists said the Citizenship Bill came at a time when the people of Manipur were demanding introduction of the Inner Line Permit system to regulate the entry and stay of outsiders in the state.
Amid the growing chaos over Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday reiterated that he is not going to betray the Assamese people.
"The people of Assam have made me Chief Minister with lots of trust and confidence. I have not come here to betray the Assamese race. I shall work for the development of Assam till the last moment by taking into confidence my MLAs and the party MPs," said Sonowal at a meeting in Dhubri district's Chapar on Wednesday.
"I have not taken the responsibility of Chief Minister just for the sake of being a Chief Minister. I am here to establish peace in the state keeping the ideologies of Dr Bhupen Hazarika and Hemanga Biswas in mind and uniting the people of Barak and Brahmaputra ... and of hills and plains," he said, adding that development is not possible without peace and harmony.
The pressure seems to be mounting on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in the state over growing opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016. The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has already snapped ties with the saffron party over the issue, while hundreds of organisations in the state are opposing the Bill.
The AGP has already announced its agitation against the Bill to be started from Friday.
Even BJP legislators Rituparna Baruah, Padma Hazarika and Atul Bora have expressed their disagreement to the Bill.
