• NSF 3rd phase campaign on ILP and illegal immigrants kick starts
• Urges NNPGs to desist from employing people of questionable origins
Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 14
The Naga Students Federation (NSF) campaign demanding the inclusion of Dimapur district within the ambit of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regulation progressed into the third phase on September 14. While the demand has long been in the public domain, it picked momentum subsequent to the updating of the final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam earlier in July.
Some 40 lakh names missing from the updated NRC draft sent the alarm bells ringing in Nagaland with indigenous organisations here fearing an influx from the neighbouring state.
A general perception at present in Nagaland is that of bringing Dimapur within the ILP purview, would to a great extent, put a plug to an alleged unchecked inflow of non-native migrant populations of purported dubious origins; in addition to stricter monitoring of the existing system. At the NSF rally on September 14 headlined as the “3rd Phase Initiative on Checking of ILP defaulters and influx of illegal immigrants,” the NSF reiterated its demand to the government to strictly implement the ILP system.
It was preceded by the second phase - a rally in Kohima on August 24 and submission of a representation to the Chief Minister. The first phase took place in the form of the NSF conducting an ILP verification exercise on August 8.
“The government should mandatorily monitor the entry-exit of migrants. The system here has become so convenient that there are middlemen for obtaining ILP (on behalf of non-native people coming into the state),” said NSF president Christopher Ltu in his address at the rally.
Stating that such “middlemen” should be caught and due punishment given, Ltu maintained, “These people are equally responsible for illegal immigration.”
Ltu further urged the Naga National Political Groups to desist from employing people of “questionable identities” (origins) in its political endeavour. Stating that the NSF has unwaveringly contributed to the Naga cause, he said that the students’ community cannot allow “aliens to hijack our future.”
He pointed to an apparent lack of interest among Nagas to work in other employment avenues other than the preferred government jobs that is also regarded as partially responsible for the influx of migrants, who more often than not come looking for jobs. Changing mindset with regard to employment and inculcating a progressive work culture would act as a tool to plugging “illegal immigration” into the state, he said, to add, “If our economy is controlled by others, our future will depend on others.”
Stating that the state government has likely taken note of its August 24 representation, Ltu reminded, “The state government has the power to alter or amend the ILP regulation with regard to Nagaland.”
Former NSF leader and presently the Convenor of the High Power Committee (HPC) Dimapur Naga Students Union (DNSU), K. Temjen Jamir said that if Nagas go on depending on “others,” a stage would come when Nagas would become tenants in their own land.
The issue, he said, is not only about stopping “illegal immigration,” it also pertains to upholding the special rights and privileges as guaranteed by the Constitution of India.
Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) vice president (admin), K. Ghokheto Chophy, reminded that the NCD had also submitted a memorandum demanding the implementation of ILP in Dimapur. Asking the state government to take it up in the next Assembly session, he warned that the NCD “will not remain a silent spectator” if its demands are not met.
He further asked the “genuine Indians” to join the campaign against “illegal immigration.”
