Survival Nagaland
Survival Nagaland would like to appreciate the circular issued by Home Department on July 25, 2018. The office memorandum dwelt on certain advisories to district administration, police, town and village authorities in connection with the neighboring state’s NRC (National Register of Citizens) final draft scheduled to be published on July 30, 2018. Don't we think this is little too late to realize after years of slumber? How prepared are we to face the reality?
Sensing a serious threat of mass exodus of illegal migrants at the time of Assam's NRC, the Survival Nagaland (SN) has been sensitizing community leaders as well as general public by creating awareness on illegal migrants through print media, social media as well as all other available means of communication. Most importantly, the SN as a responsible pressure group approached the Governor, the Chief Minister and Home Commissioner for immediate intervention to bring in Dimapur district under ILP zone. SN stressed on certain provisions of Law and suggested some steps for Dimapur ILP zone in consultation with SN legal advisor. The Home Department stated that they need more time and therefore follow up meeting with SN would be fixed to work out modalities. However, SN was never intimated past the first meeting. Now four years on, SN's repeated reminders and representations to the heads manning the state Government have fallen on deaf ears.
The media on July 25, 2018 reported the view of the State Government. The Nagaland Government still feels that there is "possible influx of illegal immigrants from Assam due to NRC being prepared". This is a disturbing statement because the time has come to say "imminent influx of illegal migrants." It pains us to note the Nagaland Government issuing advisory at an eleventh hour when the ball has already rolled over the goal mouth. All eyes are on state Government, the strategy and mechanism to combat this menace particularly for Dimapur district.
Media report of Feb 17, 2017 revealed "Assam's NRC process had conspicuous presence of Nagaland-issued Birth Certificates in lower Assam". Thenortheastindiatoday.com reported that the AASU (All Assam Student's Union) demanded action when the officials detected an unspecified number of birth certificates with its origins in Nagaland state. It stated that the Birth Certificates were sent to Nagaland for authentication. The media also reported that the Nagaland Chief Secretary admitted "his office has received correspondence on the matter from the Assam state Government, it has been referred to the Home department". Now that Assam is ready to take off with final NRC, the Naga citizens deserve to know from the Government of Nagaland whether those were illegally issued by the Government employees for want of few hundred bucks or a case of forgery.
NRC is a list of Indian citizens documented across the country in 1951 but it was said to be based on the census of that year only and no revision done thereafter. For inclusion in NRC, the Assam Government stated eligibility that those persons whose names were in the 1951 NRC or in any of the electoral rolls up to the midnight of March 24, 1971 and should be their descendants. If the individual’s name is not in any of these lists, a person can produce any of the documents dated up to March 24, 1971 such as land records, citizenship certificate, refugee registration certificate, birth certificate and educational certificate (March 25, 1971 was when Bangladesh Liberation War started).
The Nagaland Government has "cautioned its citizens not to let their premises to doubtful and suspicious people" and directed the house owners "to verify from the authorities the identity of their tenants" (published by media July 25, 2018). In this connection, can our Government kindly suggest the building owners specifically on what documents to insist?
The NRC exercise of Assam is a long term goal and manifesto declared during the state assembly election by Sonowal Government in 2016. Sadly, no political parties in Nagaland ever bothered to take illegal migrants issue on board in the recently concluded Feb 2018 State Assembly Election. Upon the success of NRC in Assam, this will be the most exciting achievement of present ruling Government. As Assam celebrates victory over illegal settlement, should we welcome the exodus and remain challenged? How sophisticated is our Government to face any eventuality? God forbid the Nagaland's district of Dimapur turning into a Miya Paradise for posterity.
