Union Home minister Amit Shah and Assam finance minister and chairman of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) Himanta Biswa Sarma assured the Nagaland delegation that the draft bill of the Citizen Amendment Bill (CAB) will be sent to Nagaland for further consultation.
This is contradictory to the reports that Nagaland has been exempted from CAB.
This was disclosed by NPCC president K. Therie who was also part of the delegation comprising of NDPP, BJP, NPF, Congress, NGBF, NTC, ENPO and NSF met with Amit shah at Assam House in Delhi on December 3 where NEDA chairman Himanta Biswa Sarma chaired the meeting.
Therie said the Nagaland delegation had held a preparatory meet at Nagaland House Delhi before going to meet Shah. The Nagaland delegation resolved to urge upon the Centre to exempt Nagaland from the purview of the 6th CAB. At the meeting with the union home minister at Assam house, Therie said after chief minister Neiphiu Rio spoke, NEDA chairman Himanta intervened to maintain that CAB and NRC will be implemented all over India.
With regard to Nagaland, Himanta said granting Indian citizenship would be on the basis of ILP besides other qualifications as contained in the format. Himanta said a column would be provided in the format where an applicant (for citizenship) would be required to mention the ILP number.
To this, Theja Therieh intervened to clarify that ILP was only a temporary travel permit for 15 days and had no registration number. Responding to Therieh, NEDA chairman suggested that the Nagaland government “has to make the numbers. The NPCC president said the suggestion by Himanta was welcomed by chief minister Neiphiu Rio.
Therie also disclosed that when T.R. Zeliang sought more time for explanation on the matter, union home minister Amit Shah cut him(TR) short and asked him not to politicise the matter. Therie also claimed that Shah spoke only in Hindi and wondered if he ever even understood the demand placed before him by the Nagaland delegates.
Therie said the only saving grace of the meeting was the assurances by both Shah and Himanta that the draft of the CAB would be sent to Nagaland for perusal.
Therie also claimed that the BJP delegation at the meeting “were sitting like soldiers” while the Congress did not participate as it demanded exemption of Nagaland from CAB.
NGPF lauds Amit Shah: Nagaland GB Federation (NGBF) has expressed gratitude to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for inviting all the civil groups and political leaders of Nagaland to deliberate on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in New Delhi on December 3, 2019.
In a press release, NGBF president Shaleem Konyak, general secretary Shikuto Zalipu and media secretary Akhu Naga said that at meeting all the civil society organizations and political leaders unanimously urged the Union Home Minister to exempt Nagaland from the purview of the CAB. NGBF has welcomed the assurance given by Union Home Minister that all the ILP zones including sixth schedule in the Northeast would be exempted.
According to NGBF, the meeting was represented by Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio; Leader of Opposition TR Zeliang; NPCC president K Therie; MP Lok Sabha Tokheho; MP Rajya Sabha G.Kenye; NEFIP vice president Theja Therieh; NGBF president Shaleem Konyak; NGBF general secretary Shikuto Zalipu; Nagaland Tribes Council president Toniho Yepthomi; NTC general secretary Nribemo Ngullie; JCPI convener Ghokheto Chophy; JCPI co-convener Joel Naga; NSF president Ninoto Awomi; NSF general secretary Liremo R. Kikon; ENSF president Sepili L Sangtam; ENSF general Secretary Imtichoba Chang; ENPO president Kekung Yimchunger and general secretary Manliang Phom.
NGBF has further expressed gratitude to all the Naga leaders for coming together to express in one voice against the CAB.