Chakhroma GBs terms CAA a ‘nefarious’ law

DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 27 (MExN): The Chakhroma GBs Union (CGBU) has expressed concern over the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019. The Union through a press statement alleged that the Act is nothing but a “deliberate attempt to invade and snatch our land by overwhelming the indigenous people with immigrants.”

At the same time, it expressed bafflement as to how the two Member of Parliament from Nagaland, who claim to represent the people could vote in favour of such a “nefarious law” without the least concern about the long term consequences it could have on the people. The Union therefore said they should be made answerable to the people for their action. 

The Union also questioned the silence of the state government which it said has not made a statement in the interest of "our people and land."

The Union said the notion and the argument that the ILP and Article 371A "are there to protect us" and that the CAA will not be effective because of these special provisions are “ridiculous.” 

The Union reminded that the Inner Line Permit (ILP) had not been able check the influx of ‘immigrants’ into our land despite being in operation for so many decades, rather it has only become a money making tool for certain people. 

“It was not a problem for any outsider to procure ILP and enter Nagaland, and we are all witness to how today our economy is being controlled by outsiders who enter Nagaland on temporary permit. So granting citizenship to the ‘immigrants’ will only facilitate more inflow of outsiders into North Eastern states, particularly Assam and Nagaland who will over run our people completely and take complete control of our land and its resources,” it stated. 

The Union further stated that though Nagaland may be said to be exempt from the CAA, it will not be a problem for "immigrants" to procure citizenship from other states and enter Nagaland as legitimate citizens of India, and "we won’t be in a position to deport them."

It elaborated that getting citizenship will mean getting all the rights including the right to vote and employment, adding “Since our markets and economy are already controlled by outsiders it won’t be long before they take control of our politics too once they enter our land as citizens of India having the right to franchise.”

The Union also maintained that if the government can do away with Article 370 in Kashmir without any hesitation, it would not be a Herculean task for the government to erase Article 371A from the Constitution of India once the vote bank is established. 

Therefore, "it will be very foolish on our part to console ourselves by the presence of Article 371A," the Union concluded.