Voicing out its concern over the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) 2016, the Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) Thursday asserted that the bill, which has invited strong opposition from every corner, needed to be dealt with “a very pragmatic approach” by the Nagas.
CNTC through its media cell said mere opposing or going against bill was not the solution. “This is also no time for political parties to engage in bickering and blame games but come together to save ourselves from the impending doom,” it stated.
Reminding Nagas to be realistic and realise that they, as an indigenous people, were equipped and blessed with many privileges and rights, the CNTC, however, said despite of all such provisions, Nagas have failed themselves as a whole on many issues and fronts. It stated that failure to control the unabated influx of illegal immigrants in Nagaland was one major issue where Nagas have failed to address genuinely.
The council affirmed that Nagas being a small, vulnerable population “cannot ever compromise of Nagaland being converted into dumping ground for illegal immigrants”. CNTC, however, said Nagas have not much been able to go further except “bickering and writing mighty words in the media.” Over the decades, CNTC said the respective state governments, tribes hohos, civil society groups, student organisations and the public have miserably failed to tackle the issue of illegal immigrants.
Of late, the council said the apprehension over the issue of illegal immigrants being granted citizenship status would not have found much ground for the Nagas and can be checked, if provisions such as the Inner Line Permit Act under the BEFRA 1873, the 16-point agreement, Nagaland Land and Revenue Amendment Act were truly implemented in letter and spirit. “Whether Indian citizen or not, many illegal immigrants of doubtful identities have already entered all our interior districts of the state,” CNTC stated.
Further, CNTC pointed out that despite of having Article 371A, Nagaland Land Revenue and Amendment Act 1978, many (illegal immigrants) have been able to possess valid documents like residential certificates, driving licenses, Aadhaar cards etc. and have started to even own immovable properties due to “our own gullibility, craze for easy money and the lack of farsightedness and concern for our children’s future.”
It pointed out that the Nagaland Land and Revenue Regulation Amendment Act passed by Nagaland Legislative Assembly on August 21, 1978, where only indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland shall acquire or possess land, seemed to become a mere act on paper only without any true implementation.
In this regard, the CNTC has appealed Nagas to be realistic and understand the ground situation. “Mere voicing out in print media or showing resentment on social media platforms over the Citizenship Amendment Bill…will not bring any solution unless we walk the talk start doing our part,” it maintained.
Despite the presence of various provisions and privileges granted to the Nagas, CNTC said the failure of Nagas to implement them showed their own weakness and failure time and again. From time to time, the cry of ILP to be imposed all over the state is heard from every corner at various intervals but again fades out after sometime, CNTC said.
When the ILP Act is already in force in 10 districts of the state, it said the state government machinery and every organization together have failed to put it into force.
CNTC, therefore, asserted that it was high time now that Nagas need a collective effort “to curb this silent invasion before times runs out.” It cautioned that Nagas were already on the verge of becoming minority in their own land. “Thus, the answer lies in our own hands to decide our fate before it is too late,” CNTC underscored.