The State government’s belated cabinet decision to oppose the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), has been termed as mockery by NTC member Theja Therieh, who alleged that the lone Lok Sabha member from NDPP had voted in favour of the Bill.
Addressing the public rally, Therieh said the NDA government at the Centre bulldozed Joint Parliamentary Committee (JCP) by getting the latter’s clearance and then took Lok Sabha for a ride by successfully managing to get the Bill passed.
He alleged that hectic lobby was going on to pass CAB in Rajya Sabha by the NDA government trying to bring in a Supplementary Bill.
He feared that even if the Bill fail to clear the Upper House of Parliament, the amendment to the Citizenship Act would be brought about through an ordinance by the Centre and no one could stop them.
Therieh termed the State government’s decision to oppose the Bill as a mockery as the Lok Sabha member voted in its favour and said “the State has no moral right to tell Government of India that we are not for it”.
Citing protests in the neighbouring States against CAB, the NTC leader said Nagas could not raise their voice due to divisions and trust deficit.
He pointed out that Dimapur was completely crushed as there was no mechanism to enforce ILP and appealed to Government of India (GoI) to cover the entire administrative jurisdiction of Nagaland, including Dimapur, under ILP, adding that unless this was done, nothing would happen as the State government was still was sleeping over it.
He asserted that, if CAB becomes law, protective legislations like ILP and Article 371(A) would not be able to protect the State. He also questioned the ILP Committee the reason for delay in submitting its final report to the State government.
Therieh also called upon ‘‘sons of the soil’’, (Nagas) must wake up, stand and protect their privileges.
On Naga political issue, Therieh regretted that it had been 21 years since the negotiations had begun, and yet the desire of the Nagas to bring all groups together to the negotiation table as one entity had failed as the Nagas were not united and different groups had their own vested interest.
However, he wondered that when eight NNPGs were in the peace process and the negotiators had reached a level of understanding, what stopped GoI to sort out the differences and sign a final agreement.
Reminding GoI of its promises of bringing in a solution within 18 months and “election for solution”, Therieh said “If the negotiators are not capable to negotiate on behalf of the Naga people, then better come out,” and asked New Delhi not to give false promises if it could not stand by them.
In her address, NMA joint secretary Malsawmthangi Leyri said CAB would open the floodgates of more illegal immigrants into the State under the guise of religion.
Pointing out that even ILP could not be implemented effectively, she said citing Article 371(A) as a protective gear was unfortunate as Nagas were well aware of the facts.
She demanded that State government discuss in the Assembly that Article 371(A) protected the State from CAB.
Meanwhile, terming the Central government’s slogan “election for solution” as “mockery”, Leyri appealed to the negotiating parties to expedite the peace process to bring a solution to the vexed Naga issue.
JCPI convener and co-ordination committee member also spoke at the rally.
Meanwhile, Therieh said the State government was working to come out with a mechanism to check inflow of illegal immigrants, including monitoring of entry and exit points like railway station and airport. Yet, he alleged that State government was nervous to make it operational.
Briefing media persons after the rally, he also informed reporters that even if CAB was imposed forcefully, the Nagas would continue to oppose, adding that further course of action would be decided later.
On the Lok Sabha member Tokheho Yepthomi’s comment of “no final solution” to Naga issue before parliamentary election, the NTC member said it was not the prerogative of the MP to comment and termed it “unqualified statement”.