NPCC President, K Therie addressing a press conference in Kohima on December 12. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | December 12
The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) today strongly condemned both the Members of Parliaments from Nagaland for supporting Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB).
Addressing a press conference here today at Congress Bhavan, NPCC president K Therie said both MPs representing Nagaland has supported the CAB, which shows “that they are not actually against the CAB.”
“They were not aware that this Bill is in violation of fundamental right provided in the constitution,” he said.
Therie said that Congress in Delhi and in the state opposed the passing of CAB because it is against the spirit of constitution.
Stating that both Nagaland MPs supported the Bill finally, Therie said that Rajya Sabha MP KG Kenye was seen protesting against the Bill with a banner 2 times outside Parliament but finally voted in favor of the Bill.
“This clearly shows that they were not really protesting against the spirit of CAB.”
As a Christian, he said, the North East MP Christians should not have voted in favor as the Bill discriminates.
“Although we know the Bill discriminates religion they have voted in favour,” he said.
On ILP, he said that no matter whatever safety provisions is provided “we cannot stop illegal immigrants entering the state.”
“They say ILP states will be protected but what about those already settled here. In some few years time they can avail Indian citizenship. There are already around 2.5 lakhs of illegal immigrants in the foothill areas- this is going to impact and we cannot deny them the beneficiaries,” he said.
“Although there is ILP, I don’t know how ILP will salvage us,” he said.
Therie said that Nagaland state as a whole is now an Inner line area therefore CAB should not be applied and if that is the way we should understand then we may have some salvation otherwise ILP itself is only a travel permit.
There may be some safety but there will be lot of impact and loopholes which we will not be able to control, he said.
He declared that from the very beginning, Congress has been objecting this CAB in view of our political settlement.
Therie felt that it is too early for us to accept this type of CAB because only after RIIN is cleared, then we can start accepting CAB or NRC. "But before having filtered ourselves, if we are just to accept such type of bill, it will dilute, submerge and sink the identity of Nagas."
In matters of 20/ 30 years time, Therie said that the demography of Nagas will be completely changed.
He said that government of the day is not having concern which is a sorry thing. Given opportunity Congress will remove CAB, Therie said.
