Lotha Hoho (LH) Wednesday termed as “anti-Naga” the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) 2016, which was passed by the Lok Sabha during the just-concluded Winter Session of Parliament.
LH through its media & publicity cell said the Bill seemed to be the “ultimate concern” for the minority ethnic people especially of Northeast and particularly for the Nagas. In his regard, the Hoho has urged the Naga leaders to act before the Bill gets passed in the Rajya Sabha. “Once the Bill gets through the Rajya Sabha no amount of resentment will undo that…” LH stated.
The hoho has, however, queried “why do our Naga leaders not only keep mum but also do nothing to make use of the provisions available for protection of the Naga people whom they are representing? Or are our leaders leading us to doom?”
It also asked the sitting Lok Sabha MP what was he doing when the house passed the Bill? “Did he raise any voice; even if not heeded?” LH asked.
Further, LH queried why were the Naga tribal and other organisations keeping quiet? Stating that Nagas have provisions such as BEFRA 1873, Article 371 A, 16- Point Agreement for their protection, the LH, however, asserted that Nagas needed to make use of the constitutional provisions or Agreements.
It pointed out that all the provisions of 16-Pont agreement need to be claimed particularly Clause 1, 11, 12 and 13 (to be under External Ministry, Financial Assistance, Restoration of Transferred Reserved Forests, Consolidation of Contiguous Naga Areas).
“When all these provisions are already available for us why waste time in negotiation? Just make use of the provisions and adhere to them since provisions are already written and available,” LH suggested.
It said that leaders of Nagaland did not seem to care to know the provisions to safeguard Nagas.
LH further said that the leaders, instead of making use of the provisions “become restless and in their hurry to please the Central leaders, accept Acts and policies without caring to ponder on the consequences of adopting such policies, e.g. the Women Reservation.”
In spite of having all the provisions, LH said Nagaland became the first state to adopt the 33% Women Reservation. “Also when we have the Clause 12 of 16-Point Agreement, for Restoration/Transfer of Reserved Forests (taken out to Assam from Naga Hills earlier), back to Nagaland, why bother to counter in the Supreme Court in which Assam had filed a Litigation in 1998, for claims of Naga lands,” the Hoho said.
Further, slamming the leaders, the LH said that despite reactions from different organizations against the Bill, the Naga leaders, instead of making efforts to oppose the Bill, have “exhibited their usual character of choosing power and money; and not their people!”
While taking note of the recent arguments, accusations and counter accusations among the leaders in the media, the Hoho reminded the Naga leaders to bear in mind that the “Nagas have not elected them to argue among themselves, but to do our welfare and to protect us.”