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The roads in Dimapur wear a deserted look on Wednesday due to an 18-hour bandh called to protest the proposed tabling of the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) during the Winter session of the Parliament. EM Images/ Caisii Mao[/caption]
Dimapur, Nov. 20 (EMN): The joint committee for prevention of illegal immigrants (JCPI) has extended its appreciation to citizens of Nagaland, civil organisations, tribal ‘hohos’ and commercial organisations for their cooperation to the call of the North East Forum for Indigenous People (NEFIP) to protest the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB).
Normal life in many parts of the state was paralysed as commercial establishments downed their shutters during the 18-hour bandh, which ended on Wednesday afternoon, called by the JCPI.
“The 18 hours state-wide bandh is purely a conscience call for the people to take their respective responsibility to voice their opinion for or against the CAB 2016. The spontaneous response of the people from all districts in spite of the hectic season is a big sacrifice and the message was loud and clear against the CAB,” the statement read.
“The protest in the entire Northeast region is unanimous and a clear rejection of the impending CAB which is yet to be tabled on the floor of the parliament. We strongly believe that the GOI will definitely consult the stake holders of the region before introducing the contentious Bill in the parliament,” it added.
The JCPI stated that the region cannot accept anything that is imposed on the people without its prior consent.”
“We fail to understand why the magnificent India prefers the foreigners to genuine indigenous citizens of the region. Now, the indigenous population of the region have vowed to fight for our rights collectively and therefore, we shall not rest till justice is delivered,” it said.
Bandh peaceful in Mokokchung
Our Correspondent
The 18-hour bandh called by the JCPI against the proposed tabling of the CAB concluded peacefully on Wednesday in Mokokchung district.
In Mokokchung town, the movement was spearheaded by four mass-based civil society organisations namely Ao Senden, Ao Kaketshir Mungdang (AKM), Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), and Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem (MTLT) in solidarity with the JCPI’s call to protest the CAB.
All shops and business establishments’ closed during the enforcement of the bandh in solidarity with other north-eastern states in the fight against the Centre’s move to push the bill during the ongoing winter session of the Parliament.
After the bandh was lifted at 12 noon on Wednesday, business resumed as usual. Offices, banks, schools and vehicular movement were not affected during the shutdown.
The Ao Senden’s vice-president Imkong Jamir called the CAB a "big issue that cannot be neglected at any cost." He urged the people of Mokokchung to be prepared when called upon in regard to this issue. He acknowledged volunteers who came forward purely based on their conscience to safeguard the future of the people during times such as this.
