PDA Govt is trying to confuse Naga people : NPF on CAB

Kohima, 12th February 2019

The Naga People’s Front directed the NDPP led PDA Government that if it wishes to streamline the ILP regulations and include Dimapur within the ambit of the same, the Government should not hesitate to table the proposed Bill and pass it in the upcoming Assembly Session as no one is stopping them from doing that. However, on the contrary to it, the PDA Government is trying to confuse the Naga people by underscoring that under any circumstances the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 is passed, the Nagas were protected under ILP and Article 371 A and upholding it in the two Cabinet decisions of 5th June 2018 and 7th Jan. 2019.

The PDA Government is of the view that Nagas can take shelter under Article 371A and BEFR 1873, but these provisions cannot stop a person from obtaining Indian Citizenship anywhere in India.

If Lok Sabha MP, Tokheho Yepthomi belonging to the NDPP Party did not vote in favour of the Citizenship Amendment Bill, the NDPP should come out clean instead of asking NPF Party to provide proofs. Simply to wash off their hands, PDA Government cannot include the two special provisions in every decision and resolution they take.

It may be mentioned that, immediately after the Cabinet decision was taken on 5th June 2018, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his Cabinet team rushed to Delhi and reported to Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh that the PDA Government had decided not to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 to which the Home Minister reciprocated with a big congratulation.

After the Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on January 8, 2019; the third Cabinet decision was taken on January 28, 2019 to oppose the said Bill along with the concept that the Nagas are safe under Article 371 A and BEFR, 1873. As a follow up action, a Consultative Meeting was held at Chumukedima on January 31, 2019 to regularise the Cabinet decision which however was self-contradictory.

In the meeting Neiphiu Rio accused Leader of Opposition, TR Zeliang and President of the NPF Party, Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu for boycotting the said meeting but the reason for boycotting the Meeting was certain for obvious reasons.

At the Consultative Meeting, in presence of all tribal leaders and NGOs, the Chief Minister also accused the NPF DAN Government of being silent when the Citizenship Amendment Bill was tabled in the Lok Sabha during 2016. But the fact of the matter is that the said Bill was proposed in the Lok Sabha on July 15, 2016 and referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on August 12, 2016 when present Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio was the Lok Sabha MP representing Nagaland in the Lok Sabha from May 2014 to February 2018.

In presence of all the Public leaders on January 31, 2019; did the present Chief Minister intended to imply that the then NPF led DAN Government under TR Zeliang at that point of time should have protested while the said Bill was still under scrutiny by the JPC? What cannot be denied is the fact that Neiphiu Rio himself was the lone Lok Sabha MP belonging to the NPF Party at that point of time and shifting the blame to the NPF Party today shows his ignorance on what was going on in the Parliament during his tenure.

As the MP representing Nagaland, it was his bounden duty to have consulted the State Government and taken into confidence the voice of the Naga people as the said Bill was referred to the JPC which took over a year. Neiphiu Rio however, failed to do this as he was hardly in Parliament and was busy master-minding crisis, one after another, to topple the then NPF led DAN Government in the State.

Therefore, the PDA Government should respect the intellect of the Nagas and desist itself from misguiding the Nagas any further.

Issued by,
Press Bureau,
Naga people's Front
Central Headquarter,
Kohima: Nagaland.