Dimapur, Oct. 8 (EMN): The Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF) appreciates the stand of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga against the Citizenship Amendment Bill.
The NPF issued a press release to the media on Tuesday.
‘The NPF appreciates the stand of Conrad Sangma, chief minister of Meghalaya and Zoramthanga, chief minister of Mizoram for taking the right stand against Citizenship Amendment Bill from day one. We are also grateful to Union Home Minister, Amit Shah who understood the issue and had declared in Aizawl on Saturday that a special clause would be incorporated in the Citizenship Amendment Bill in order to protect the interest of NE states particularly Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh,’ the press release stated.
The party claimed that it was aware ‘from the beginning’ that unless a notable clause was incorporated in the controversial Bill, no state in any part of NE India was protected under any provision including Article 371 (A) and the Inner Line Permit.
“It would have done a lot of good, if this problem was identified prior to passing of the Bill by the 16th Lok Sabha on January 8, 2019 wherein the matter could have been resolved amicably if the three States had taken the same stand. However, it is better late than never and we welcome the positive announcement aimed towards safeguarding the rights and identity of the indigenous people in NE India.”
