Dimapur, Dec. 13 (EMN): Even as the Northeast region has been thrown into turmoil by the act of the Centre bulldozing the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in the Parliament, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has condemned New Delhi’s failure to take into account the sentiments and plea of the indigenous inhabitants of the NE region.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the federation expressed resentment at the “injustice done by the government of India in this regard and that the federation has never and will never support CAB which is the latest weapon of the Centre to divide the north-eastern people on concessional lines”.
The NSF, it stated, does not believe in classification of ‘illegal immigrants on religious lines as the NSF regards all illegal immigrants as criminal and must be treated accordingly.
“The Act has torn the very secular nature of the Constitution. The NSF, hereby, join with the rest of the Northeast people by declaring a 6-hour total bandh on the December 14 from 6 am to 12 noon. Therefore, the NSF appeals to all the concerned citizens and stakeholders to extend their support and cooperation in this fight to protect the existence and the identity of the indigenous people,” read the statement.
Also, the federation expressed “great displeasure” at, and condemned, three Naga members of the Parliament i.e. Tokheho Yepthomi, KG Kenye and Dr. Lorho S Pfoze “who spoke and voted in favour of the Bill when it was tabled in both the houses of the Parliament without considering the threat and the consequences which the Bill poses against the Indigenous inhabitants of the north-eastern states”.
It demanded the three MPs to publicly state “the rationale behind their support for the Bill and also explain to the general public as to why the Act will not affect the people they represent”.
The federation reiterated its earlier stand that the CAB is “discriminatory, anti-indigenous, anti-minority; and that the entire north-eastern states should be left out from the purview of the Act”.
Further, it assured the NE people in general, and Nagas in particular, that the federation “shall spare no effort and together with the North East Students’ Organisation; shall take up all necessary democratic and legal measures to ensure that the law does not take effect on even a small pocket in the entire north-east region”.
In a separate statement, the All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) maintained that it was “disturbed and appalled with the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Bill”.
“Whereas, the indigenous tribal citizens in particular and the Northeast in general have been opposing the Citizenship Amendment Bill, much to the dismay of the region, the CAB was passed. The malevolent bill has caused the lives of the innocents in the neighbouring north-eastern states, to which ANCSU is deeply pained and extend our solidarity to the neighbouring states.
“Although Nagaland comes under the ambit of Inner Line Permit, it in no way guarantees to safeguard the Nagas from the heinous CAB. The CAB intends to infringe upon the basic principle of the Indian Constitution, which clearly indicates that the Bill is treacherous in nature. The ANCSU fervently oppose the CAB and urge upon its political leaders to represent the will and aspiration of its people.
“The result of passing the bill has adversely affected the north-eastern people, and ANCSU fervently extends its unflinching support to the movement and stand of the Naga Students’ Federation in fight against the CAB,” read the statement.