DIMAPUR, JANUARY 11 (MExN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) today stated that “over dependence on Article 371A, and taking refuge over it will only spell doom for the Nagas future, unless the privileges and patronage the state enjoys under the Government of India is acted upon in deeds.”
It reiterated that the forum is against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, and urged all Nagas to “prevent minimum damages following the Bill, even as we continue to democratically and jointly express our resentment.”
It further appealed to the Nagaland State Government to immediately enforce the Enforce Bengal Frontier Regulation 1873 in the whole state of Nagaland.
During an executive council meeting today, the forum urged the state government to issue an official memorandum enforcing Inner Line Permit (ILP) in all the District of Nagaland without loss of time. “The state of Nagaland Act 1962, sec 26, which came into effect from December 1, 1963, clearly states that, all laws enforced will continue to be enforced in the state of Nagaland till repealed or modified,” a press note from the NPRAAF stated.
It noted that the Bengal Frontier Regulation 1873, which is only applicable in the state of Nagaland should be strictly enforced, under which regulation, Inner Line Permit (ILP) is issued and is enforced in the Naga Hills since that time.
“The regulation has become even more necessary to be enforced across Nagaland and not only in Dimapur in the backdrop of citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016. The ILP will identify foreigners especially the illegal immigrants, illegal foreigners and refugees from the Indigenous Nagas,” it said.
It further stated that regulation “will protect the state from illegal immigrants, illegal foreigners and refugees in applying of Indian citizenship to settle in the state as no other person except the indigenous inhabitant of Nagaland can even acquire Land permanently as per Nagaland Land Revenue Regulation Act 1978.”
