Anti-CAA protest: Total shutdown of colleges in NE

ANCSU appeals to higher education institutes in Nagaland to observe shutdown

Dimapur, Jan. 21 (EMN): The North Eastern Universities Students’ Fraternity has called for a total shutdown of all the universities and colleges in Northeast region today, January 22, to protest against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the petitions filed with the court, seeking to examine the constitutional validity of the Act, on the same day.

Responding to the call by the Northeast student fraternity, the All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) has appealed to all the colleges in the state to “observe total shutdown” as a sign of protest against CAA. The union also appealed to the authorities of educational institutions, faculty, staff and students to co-operate.

While stating that ANCSU has been voicing out against the “unconstitutional and contentious” Act since its introduction as a bill, it lamented that democratic protests have fell on deaf ears.

Abrogate CAA

North Eastern Universities Students’ Fraternity has resolved to demand the Central and respective state governments to abrogate the recently passed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, and implement Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the entire Northeast.

The Nagaland University Students’ Union (NUSU), Lumami, informed through a press release on Tuesday, that several resolutions were passed at a conference themed “Echoes from the Hills”, organised by the Tezpur University Students’ Council on January 19. It said the conference was conducted to share the resolutions and demands agreed upon by the “students’ union” at a closed door meeting held on the previous day.

The resolutions and demands passed by the students from Northeast region are:

• Abrogation of Citizenship Amendment Act’ 2019
• All the universities should uphold strong solidarity towards the larger issues of the north-eastern states and work towards fulfilment of the resolutions
• Demand for abolition of CAA should not be misinterpreted as it is to safeguard the indigenous rights and not against any religious communities
• Establishment of ILP as an Act under the Constitution of India for entire north-eastern states
• Handle peaceful democratic protests against the CAA in a dignified manner
• Need of a clear refugee policy for India and sealing of porous Indo-Bangla border that is responsible for illegal immigration
• North-eastern universities not to form any organisation but have only a platform to coordinate and support student bodies for the betterment of the society.

The North Eastern Universities Students’ Fraternity stated that the conference was held “to show that the entire North East is together, firm against CAA”; apolitical in nature and not against the government.

Cotton University, Nagaland University, Gauhati University, Dibrugarh University, Rajiv Gandhi University, NEHU, Assam Agricultural University and North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology attended the conference, which was also attended by dignitaries like social activist and founder of Assam Jatiya Vidyalaya Dr. Narayan Sarma and president of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Kalabhumi Dr. Lakhi Goswami, informed the press release. It went on to say that Manipur University, Mizoram University and Sikkim University could not attend the event but conveyed their support.

ILP is like a ‘lollipop’

General secretary of NUSU (L) Süyievelü Venuh, who also attended the conference along with four others from Nagaland University, told the gathering about Nagaland’s economy being controlled by lakhs of illegal immigrants.

“If we do not stand and fight now we will lose every right to complain or grief in the future when it’s too late, and Nagaland with a mere population of  2 million will be over taken in the blink of an eye,” she was quoted as saying.

While stressing that ILP is not enough to protect or safeguard the people from illegal immigrants, she likened it (ILP) to a lollipop that is given to children to stop them from crying.

“But, does the lollipop last? NO! Likewise ILP is a lollipop thrown to the Naga people to temporarily silent them on the real threat of CAA,” she added. She also demanded that the ‘state government strictly establish ILP in Nagaland, identify and deport illegal immigrants to where they belong’.

“It’s not a time to be relaxing while the other parts of our nation and neighbouring states and fighting tirelessly. Nagaland should wake up,” Assistant social and cultural secretary of NUSU (KC) Sentikala said.