Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on Saturday organized a peaceful public rally here against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens (NRC).
People from all walks of life attended the rally held at Khermahal police point junction. They were seen holding placards, raising anti-CAA-NRC slogans like as “99% Indians rejects CAA and NRC”, “Give us employment, not CAA”, “Nagaland government mukh nai?”, “Error 404, Democracy not found”, “Nazis are here”, “Sorry Assam, we are late” etc.
Addressing the rally, NPCC president K Therie sounded a note of caution, that if the people of the North Eastern states did not act , the CAA, which grants Indian citizenship to illegal non-Muslim immigrants of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, if implemented will “submerge” the tribal people of the region.
Therie lambasted BJP for trying to divide the country and called upon all to unite and fight against the BJP’s “anti-people” policies.
He said that there should not be any kind of discrimination against particular religion, but in upholding the secular values as enshrined in the Constitution of India.
The NPCC chief vowed that the party will not allow CAA and NRC to be implemented in Nagaland.
In his address, former chief minister and Congress leader, KL Chishi said that the prophecy that North East and the rest of India would burn, was already taking place.
Chishi cautioned that if people do not stand up and fight against CAA and NRC , there would be more difficult times ahead.
He also hit out at the PDA government for blatantly lying to the people that Nagaland was safe because of ILP and Article 371 A.
Former NPCC president, SI Jamir said that after the BJP came to power at the Centre, the country has been witnessing unrest.
Jamir maintained that people in the state particularly Dimapur, have been living with amity and communal harmony. He said people should reject outright the CAA as it would only break away the bond that people share.
In an oblique reference to the two MPs from Nagaland who had voted in favour of the Citizenship Bill, social activist, Kahuto Chishi said both the ruling NDPP and opposition NPF were like people without moral or principles.
He said despite the state having more than 40000 registered NGOs, no one has dared to stand up against CAA and NRC.
Also addressing the gathering, member of the North East Indigenous Forum, Dr. Lima, asserted that the current BJP government has not only strangled the democratic rights of the whole country, but also institutions like the CBI, ECI and the court. Dr. Lima termed CAA as a “Satan’s law”.
NPCC secretary, Temjen Yanger in his brief speech, stated that the country was being discriminated and persecuted by the government that was elected to protect the people.