Minister for Power & Parliamentary Affairs and state government spokesperson KG Kenye said Nagaland government strongly felt that the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) was a direct threat to the practise of “our” customary laws, social and religious practices governing every individual in the Naga society and could not be condoned, and hence was resented.
Addressing media persons at Hotel Japfü here on Tuesday, Kenye claimed that the state government was observing the sentiment of the people and resentment expressed by so many tribal bodies openly against UCC.
He said the government had communicated all these resentments to the 22nd Law Commission that was dealing with UCC.
Through the expressions made by the Nagas, various aspects had been brought out and the government presented the reality to the commission in a nutshell, he added.
He claimed that the government stood by its people like it had been doing for the past 60 years of its journey as a state.
“We have so many internal and external issues and the Centre will do well if it does not come up with more problems for us to deal with,” he remarked.
He observed that Nagas were bifurcated into four states and that though Nagaland had a small population, its problems were much larger.
The minister claimed that the state government had appealed to the Centre to review and exempt Nagaland from the purview of UCC.
He disclosed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had recently stated in “no uncertain terms” that Christians and certain sections of the population would be exempted from UCC.
He warned that if a law like UCC had to be imposed by breaching Article 371(A), it would shake the very foundation of the relationship between Nagaland and the rest of the country.
He pointed out that Article 371(A), enacted by the Parliament in 1962 and enshrined into the Constitution of India, was a by-product of the 16-Point Agreement signed in July 1960 at New Delhi.
He said this Article had stood as a constitutional guarantee made by the Government of India to the people of Nagaland and that it was only on the strength of this political agreement that Nagaland entered into the Union of India as the 16th state on December 1, 1963.
He mentioned that the State government was hopeful that the Centre would stand by its word and uphold the sanctity of the Article.
On ENPO issue: On the ENPO issue, Kenye said ever since the demand began some 12 years ago, the Nagaland government had recommended to the Central government that such an entity could be arranged as per ENPO’s demand.
He mentioned that the government had not meddled in the talks between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and ENPO.
However, clarifying that the state government had never been against the demand, he claimed that rather it had always recommended the issue to the Centre. Hence, he stated that there was no reason why the state government should not be taken into confidence on the matter.
He maintained that both MHA and ENPO had been at fault for keeping the state government in the dark, insisting that things should be transparent since it was everybody’s land.
“While the rest of Nagaland has its best wishes and fullest support, we cannot leave the rest of the people to linger in the uncertainty,” Kenye emphasised.
He announced that from now on it would be a tripartite talk among the MHA, state government and ENPO, adding that only issues that would really matter would be discussed and that the period of conceptualising the structure would also begin soon.
He expressed optimism that the talks would not be too long now. He urged the people to be cautious and not promote “market talks” in regard to the issue.
On the Manipur issue, Kenye said although Nagaland was concerned for the people of Manipur, it could not advice the latter on what to do as Nagaland too was just another state.
He however outrightly condemned that atrocities committed in the violence-torn state, especially the recent case where two women were paraded naked, terming it as a “crime against humanity” that was not acceptable at all.
He demanded that the perpetrators should be hunted and no mercy should be showed to them.
On the number of people from the neighbouring state taking refuge in Nagaland, Kenye said he could not disclose all the details, but assured that the issue was being monitored.
Commenting on the ULB issue, he said hearing on the matter in the Supreme would take place on Tuesday afternoon, adding that the state government could only hope for the best since court proceeding and verdicts were very unpredictable.
He urged the people to have full faith in the highest court of the land and do justice, adding that, as law abiding citizens, Nagas would have to adhere to the court’s verdict.
He admitted that more interactions with tribal bodies on the issue would be needed as ultimately it was meant for the people.
Kenye asserted that the government was of the people and hence decisions would be taken in consultation with the people.