CAA will be detrimental to the future of Nagas: Dr Imtiwapang
Dr. Imtiwapang Aier, center, with the presidents of Asetkong, Langpangkong, Jangpetkong, Tzürangkong, Japukong and Ongpangkong students’ unions, left to right, during the 42nd general conference of the Asetkong Kaketshir Telungjem Mungdang at Kubolong, January 10.
Morung Express News
Mokokchung | January 10
Nagaland MLA and former Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Dr. Imtiwapang Aier said today that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was detrimental to the future of the Naga people, posing a potent threat to the very existence of the Nagas as a distinct people.
Addressing the 42nd General Conference of the Asetkong Kaketshir Telungjem Mungdang (AKTM) here today at Kubolong as special guest, the two-time legislator from Impur Assembly Constituency lamented that some political leaders of the state were under the wrong impression that the ILP and Article 371(A) safeguards the Naga people and challenged them to let the legal luminaries enlighten them on the matter.
“CAA will cause abnormal and unnatural demographic change in Nagaland,” he cautioned, and continued that it would lead to forceful assimilation of ethnic Nagas with the waves of demographic invaders thereby rendering the Naga people to lose their distinct culture and identity in a matter of fifty or so years.
Aier also lamented that the Naga students and civil society organizations were slumbering while the rest of the country was burning over CAA. “Assam is burning. People are dying. There are bandhs every other day. If Assam falls, Nagaland falls. Naga people must wake up before it is too late,” Aier said. He also said that standing against CAA was not about state politics but about safeguarding the future of the Naga people.
Aier also exhorted the people of Asetkong to remain united and forge societal cohesion in order to synergize their strengths and foray ahead to meet the new challenges of the new age while also living up to the legacy of the forefathers from the range.
Dr. Moa Lemtur Memorial Debate, short presentations on the field of academics, entrepreneurship and civil services, and short speeches from the respective apex students’ organizations of Ongpangkong, Langpangkong, Jangpetkong, Japukong and Tzürangkong ranges were the other highlights of the day.
The second session of the day saw the proceedings of the business hour, discussions and tabling of reports and adopting of resolutions as well as the change of guard of AKTM leadership. The new team of AKTM leadership for the tenure 2020-2023 will be led by Lanulemba Longchar of Sungratsu Students’ Union as president and Merensangba Aier of Longpa Students’ Union as general secretary.
