On issues pertaining to ILP and filing of PIL by Mr. Ashwini Kumar Upadhaya

Kohima, 28th June 2019

In views of the recent issues pertaining to the extension of the ILP regime and the BEFR 1873 and the filing of a PIL by one Mr. Ashwini Kumar Upadhaya, the NDPP through this press statement would like to assure the people on some of the concerns that have been raised.

1. That on the clarion call of the people of Nagaland for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit regime and the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) 1873 to the whole of Nagaland which arose due to the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, the PDA Government decided to extend the ILP regime to Dimapur which was officially declared by the Hon’ble Governor of Nagaland & Manipur Mr. P. B. Acharya in his address to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on the 21st of February 2019; following which, the Abhishek Singh Committee was constituted and the report of the committee is being examined with the implementation of the ILP regime to the whole of Nagaland including Dimapur under process.

2. The State Government had responded positively to the call of the civil societies and NGOs who had resolved in a consultative meeting with the State Government held on 31st Janusry, 2019 at Rhododendron Hall, Chumukedima. The consultative meeting had unanimoulsy resolved for extension of ILP regulations to the whole state incuding Dimapur.

Accordinly on 15th February 2019, the State Cabinet dileberated on the issue and took the decision to extend the ILP regime all over the State including Dimapur. The Abhishek Singh Committe’s recommendations were approved and the decision to frame regulations for implimentation of committee’s report undertaken.

3. There is no question of the State Government’s decision infringing upon the life, liberty, properties and fundamental rights of the non-Nagas living in Dimapur. It needs to be pointed out that despite the existence of the ILP regime in the rest of the State, there are still a good number of non-Nagas living in these areas in harmony with the Naga people. The ILP regime will not debar any non-Naga from entering Nagaland.

The ILP is only a mechanism to keep in check the entry and exit of people from other States into Nagaland so as to protect the indigenous people of the State. The ILP in no way takes away the rights of any Indian citizen and neither is it a discrimination to the non-Naga’s. It also does not debar a non-Naga from working within the State. The imposition of ILP also does not mean that the non-naga traders have to close down their businesses.

In fact, the committee’s report has provisions for protection of all sections incuding non-Nagas, traders, flotaing working population, other north eastern citizens, tourists, travellers in transit, etc. The aspiration of the State Government is to stremline the system, use modern technology for better implimentaion and also to take steps to check influx of illigal immigrants, combat crime and anti-social elements and ensure safety and security for all citizens.

4. Nagas by nature have always been accommodating and have welcomed people with open arms into our homes. The Government of India while granting statehood to Nagaland which arose out of a political agreement unlike any other state in India, felt that the Nagas and their lands must be protected and hence the entire state excluding Dimapur was brought under the ambit of the BEFR 1873 and the ILP regime.

However, over the years, the accommodative nature of the Nagas has been taken advantage of and also the unfortunate misuse of the ILP resulting in the huge influx of illegal immigrants from neighbouring States and Bangladesh thus threatening the future of the Nagas.

Keeping this in mind, the PDA Government decided to strengthen and streamline the existing ILP regime and the BEFR while also extending the same to Dimapur in order that the entire Nagaland is covered by this regulation which will help maintain checks and balances on those people coming and going from the state so as to protect the people and our land from being infiltrated.

5. While appreciating the concerns raised by different sections on the issue, the NDPP puts on record that the NDPP led PDA Government is sincere in our commitment to protect the rights of our people and to strive for an early resolution to the decades old Naga Issue.

It is indeed most unfortunate that at such a crucial stage in the ongoing talks between the Government of India and the NNPGs, an individual who does not understand the issue at hand has come to jeopardise the hard-earned break throughs over the years by way of dialogue and discussions.

It is also further clarified that the sole purpose of our leaders going to Delhi was to felicitate the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the newly inducted Ministers of the Government of India as the PDA is a partcipating member of the NDA Government at the Centre.

It needs to be pointed out that in none of their interactions with the leaders in Delhi neither was the topic of the ILP and the BEFR raised nor discussed. Just as the people have been taken by shock and surprise, the NDPP led PDA and all our leaders have also been equally taken by surprise by the PIL that has been filed in the Supreme Court of India.

6. The fact that Dimapur has always been an integral part of the Naga Hills, the question of Dimapur being a part of Assam does not arise under any circumstances. The NDPP impresses upon the the concerned persons and organisations to take all necessary measures on top priority so that the matter of PIL is resolved in an amicable manner at the earliest.

It is also the appeal of the NDPP to the non-Naga permanent residents of not only Dimapur but all over Nagaland, that they too come out in support of protecting the rights, privileges and identity of the Nagas as we have been living as one family for the last so many decades in peaceful cohabitation and harmony.

7. It is therefore the appeal of the NDPP to all citizens of Nagaland to stand united and firm in our resolve to protect our rights, privileges and identity from any adversary and we assure the people of Nagaland that we will leave no stone unturned in our collective endeavour of protecting the rights of our people and ensure safety and peace in our State.


Issued by:- Communication Department, NPCC