KG Kenye addressing a press conference in Kohima on December 20. (Morung Photo)
Tenders resignation as NPF secretary general
Our Correspondent
Kohima | December 20
Nagaland’s lone Rajya Sabha MP KG Kenye today defended his decision in favouring the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (now Citizenship Amendment Act) on the ground that it had incorporated Inner Line Permit (ILP) under Eastern Frontier Regulations (BEFR) Act 1873.
He said that CAB/CAA 2019 has strengthened the BEFR/ILP, which can no longer be stripped away by any whims/fancies of the Union government as it had become an enactment of the Parliament.
Addressing press conference here at Hotel Japfu, Kenye said that he voted in favour of CAB/CAA 2019 in the interest of the state.
He said that CAB, 2019 had incorporated ILP under BEFR 1873 and it prompted him to change his decision from opposing to support the Bill.
Under CAB 2019, he said, all categories covered now as BEFR 1873 (Inner Line Permit) incorporated in the principle Citizenship Act of 1955 thereby binding all Indian citizens under “conditions and restrictions.”
He said coverage/extension of BEFR 1873 (ILP) is no more a union cabinet decision but compulsory since it is an enactment of the Parliament now.
Kenye said that he earlier opposed to the former CAB 2016 as it had no reference or incorporation of the 6th Schedule or the BEFRA 1873. Kenye said that the Bill has been revised, adding that CAB/CAA 2019 is now an enactment of the parliament and has strengthened the ILP.
Kenye informed that in the statement of objects and reasons of CAB 2019, the union home minister Amit Shah stated, “The Bill further seeks to project the constitutional guarantee given to indigenous populations of North Eastern States covered under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution and the statutory protection given to areas covered under “The Inner Line” system of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.”
Meanwhile, Kenye said that ILP should be strictly imposed in the state of Nagaland.
Kenye resign as NPF secretary general
In the line of Show Cause Notice served to him by the Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) of the Naga People’s Front, MP KG Kenye today tendered his resignation from the post of secretary general of NPF.
MP informed that his resignation letter was submitted to NPF president today.
“It is a very rare case that a high profile party office bearer should fall under the DAC scanner as my integrity has become questionable. Therefore, I am taking this step so as to save the prestige and image of the party,” stated Kenye in his resignation letter made available to media persons.
It may be recalled that DAC in a show cause notice on December 19 sought answer from Kenye as to why he voted in favour of the CAB/CAA on December 12, 2019 in total defiance of the party’s resolution in the Upper House of Indian parliament.
