Dimapur Naga Students' Union protests article questioning ILP, demands clarification

DIMAPUR — The Dimapur Naga Students' Union (DNSU) has condemned an article written by Rajesh Kumar Sethi—published with his designation as National Coordinator of the All India Congress Committee and In-charge of Manipur—calling it misleading, provocative, and an attack on the constitutional rights of the Naga people.

In a condemnation note, the union claimed that his assertions, questioning the constitutional validity of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Dimapur and “misrepresenting the historical realities and rights of the Naga people”, are not only erroneous but deeply provocative.

“We view Mr. Sethi's article as a direct assault on these fundamental rights and a dangerous attempt to sow discord and confusion in our society,” it read.

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The DNSU said that Sethi's claims regarding "legal residents" being left in limbo and the alleged violation of "Article 14 and Equality Principles" demonstrate a profound misunderstanding of India’s constitutional framework, particularly concerning tribal areas.

Stating that the ILP is a protective mechanism, sanctioned by the very spirit of Article 371A of the Indian Constitution, specifically designed to safeguard the unique socio-economic and cultural identity, land ownership, and traditional practices of indigenous communities like the Nagas, the student union noted that it is not an act of discrimination but a necessary measure to prevent the demographic imbalance and cultural erosion that unchecked immigration would inevitably cause.

“The Supreme Court has, on numerous occasions, upheld similar protective legislations for indigenous populations,” it said.

Furthermore, the DNSU alleged that his assertion of a "fear of dispossession among future generations" for non-Nagas conveniently inverts the true narrative and added that the actual and grave fear of dispossession resides with the indigenous Naga people if the ILP is not strictly enforced.

It said that uncontrolled influx threatens ancestral land, resource control, cultural integrity, and economic opportunities for future generations, and that the ILP is a crucial safeguard against the dispossession of the indigenous, not a cause of it for others.

“Most offensively, Mr. Sethi's claim that 'Dimapur was never a tribal area' is historically false and deeply insulting to the Naga people. Dimapur is unequivocally Naga ancestral land. The historical notification (L.R.2/11-76/1979) did not make Dimapur a tribal area; it merely re-affirmed and corrected an administrative anomaly, recognising its inherent status. To deny this is to deny the very history and identity of the Naga people who have inhabited and governed this land for centuries,” it claimed.

The student union demanded an immediate and unequivocal answer from the Indian National Congress (INC) on whether Sethi's article, “which fundamentally attacks the constitutional rights and historical safeguards of the Naga people”, is officially endorsed by the INC.

It asked if the Indian National Congress officially condones and supports the views expressed in this article, which it said “are clearly against the interests and sentiments of the Naga people and in contradiction to the protective spirit of the Indian Constitution towards tribal communities”.

Further, it questioned what the INC’s official and unambiguous stance is on ILP in Nagaland, particularly in Dimapur, and its role in protecting indigenous rights.

The DNSU reiterated that the ILP’s constitutionality is valid, necessary, and vital for the protection of indigenous land, jobs, and welfare rights for Nagas, and it stands firm in its resolve to defend its identity and land.

“Any attempt by any individual or political party to dilute or remove these protective measures will be met with the strongest possible resistance from the Naga community.

“We urge all right-thinking citizens to see through such divisive narratives and join hands to protect our collective future. The DNSU remains committed to ensuring that the wisdom of our culture prevails and that progress is achieved with unity,” it said.

NPCC distances itself from Sethi’s remarks

Meanwhile, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has issued a clarification distancing itself from the views expressed by Sethi on ILP in Dimapur.

In the clarification, the NPCC stated that Sethi, who also used his designation as National Coordinator of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and In-charge of Manipur, put forth his individual opinion in connection with the imposition of the ILP in Dimapur, which was published in a section of local news dailies on June 24.

The NPCC said that the opinion of Sethi, who is one of the national coordinators in the Minority Department, AICC, does not reflect the opinion of the party and that party functionaries, irrespective of the designations held, are not authorised to speak on policy matters from an individual’s perspective, especially on sensitive topics like the ILP issue.

“The party will initiate appropriate measures to ensure that the party designation is not misused to bring disrepute and lower the image of the party in the eyes of the people,” it concluded.