NSF urges Nagaland CM to adopt resolution against CAA

Kohima, February 4 (MExN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) today urged Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio to adopt a resolution  against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) during the 5th Session of 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly starting February 7. 

In an official representation addressed to the Chief Minister, the NSF place on record its “total disapproval and rejection” of CAA, terming it a “controversial law.” 

The law which came into force on January 10, 2020 after it was passed in both the houses of parliament and its subsequent assent by President of India on December 12, “is set to open the floodgate for illegal immigrants to infiltrate into our land,” the NSF maintained in the representation. 

This would result in “altering the demographic and linguistic uniqueness of the North East region in general and Nagaland in particular,” it added.  

Meanwhile, the NSF also reiterated its long held view that the “CAA is anti-secular, anti-minority, anti-indigenous and is violative of the basic ethos of the constitution.”

“Posterity shall hold those proponents and supporters of the controversial law accountable for the ills that the CAA will bring about into our Naga Society,” it asserted.  

In this connection, together with its partner organizations, the Federation said that it would continue to fight against CAA in “whichever way, humanely possible, until the desired result is achieved in the larger interest of the general public.”

It further stated it is not in agreement with the state government’s assertion that the CAA “will not impact the state of Nagaland whatsoever as areas that falls under the Inner Line Permit notified under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873 will be outside the Act’s purview.”

According to the NSF, this argument “holds no water as the prevailing reality at ground zero clearly proves the contrary.”
The mechanism in applying ILP has failed miserably and the present Nagaland State is a living example of how “illegal immigrants can infiltrate and dominate upon the local people despite the ILP regime being in operation ever since the inception of the State,” it pointed out. 

The Chief Minister is also aware of this reality, the NSF indicated, further asserting that the nationwide exercise of NRC and NPR and their requirements for proper implementation of the discriminatory CAA in the country “reeks of agenda that is not in the interest of the citizens of this country but only to further the political interest of some chosen few.” 

In the light of the upcoming NLA session, the apex Naga Students’ organisation appealed the Chief Minister office to place the issue of CAA on the floor of the House for thorough deliberation along with all the elected members.

“Thereafter adopt a firm resolution denouncing the law which threatens to annihilate the unique culture, traditions, customs and practices, language of the Naga people,” it suggested.  

Further stating that it is representing the voices and aspirations of the Naga students and youths, the NSF in the representation appended by its President, Ninoto Awomi and General Secretary, Liremo R Kikon, urged the NLA members to “do whatever necessary to protect and uphold the interest of those who will inherit the future and that the adoption of the resolution.”