NLA passes resolution against Citizenship Bill

Our Correspondent

Kohima, Feb. 25 (EMN): Amid yet another walkout staged by the opposition NPF legislators, the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on Monday passed and adopted a resolution rejecting the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

The NPF had suggested the House to set aside another day to discuss Article 371 (A) as, it contended, the inclusion of the Article in the resolution against the Citizenship Bill, was “non-related.” As the government went ahead with the adoption of the resolution, the NPF legislators walked out of the assembly.

The ruling bench had argued that Article 371 (A) could not be omitted from the resolution against the Bill, saying that it was “the basis of the people’s existence.”

In the absence of opposition members,  the deputy speaker put the resolution to vote and was passed through voice vote. The four points of the resolution are: (verbatim)

1. To sternly opposed and outrightly reject the CAB which shall not be implemented in Nagaland as it will impact the unique history and status of the Nagas under the Constitution of India.
2. To express solidarity with the states and communities of the Northeast India in their struggle against the implementation of the CAB since it has the potential of changing the demographic profile which will be against the interest of indigenous tribes in the NE states and can divest them of their constitutionally guaranteed political, cultural, and economic rights.
3. To reaffirm the constitutional guarantee given by Article 371 (A) which is the part and parcel of the historic 16-Point Agreement that led to formation of Nagaland state and protects, defends and safeguards the customary way of life of Nagas, our right to land and its resources etc., without interference by Parliamentary enactments like the CAB, though it is yet to become law.
4. To reiterate the Constitutional position as aforesaid, that except the indigenous population in Nagaland, nobody is entitled to own land and resources in our state, that has been guaranteed not only by Article 371A (1) (a) of the Constitution of India but also by the Inner Line Permit Notification issued under the Bengal and Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873, which was included and reiterated as Point No. 16 of the 16-Point Agreement.

Opposition leader TR Zeliang argued that the resolution was “one-sided.” He said that the resolution had become the PDA’s resolution and not an Assembly resolution, as it was adopted in the midst of protest by the opposition bench.

Earlier he suggested the last two resolutions against the Bill be amended and rectified. He was of the view that there is a “huge difference” between the Citizenship Bill and the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation or Article 371A or the Inner Line Permit.

“If we think that we can be protected by Article 371 (A) then we need not oppose the Bill,” Zeliang said.

However, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio argued that the resolution “should not be amended but taken it in the present form.” This, he said, was in the interest of the people. He went on to say that there was no point to reject the resolutions.

Rio was of the view that the ruling as well as the opposition bench should come together and reject the Bill. He reasoned that ‘division among us portrays a wrong message to the people.’ Even if the matter is taken to the Parliament, there is no way forward to get justice, he added, pointing out to Nagaland’s solitary representations in both houses of the Parliament.

It may be mentioned that the chief minister had moved the motion for the debate on Citizenship Bill, which lasted for two days with participation from 15 legislators, both ruling and opposition.

Meanwhile, the opposition members staged a walkout for the third time on Monday, protesting a response from given by the minister of the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs to a query directed at the Rural Development department.