Nagaland: Meeting resolves to oppose Citizenship Bill, reject implementation in state

GUWAHATI: A consultative meeting with civil societies, tribal organizations, NGOs and political parties convened by Nagaland’s Progressive Democratic Alliance government of NDPP and the BJP to take a call on the Citizenship (amendment) Bill, 2016 at Dimapur on Thursday unanimously resolved to oppose the legislation and reject its implementation in Nagaland in the event of it being enacted by Parliament.
“In response to the will and desire of the people, the house unanimously resolved to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 and outrightly rejected its implementation in Nagaland,” the resolution adopted reads.
The meeting also resolved that “Nagaland stands in solidarity with the rest of the region in order to safeguard the rights of the indigenous people of the region.”
The opposition Naga People’s Front and the Congress boycotted the meeting. While NPF said the PDA government has already endorsed the bill in totality as it did not oppose the bill when it was passed in Lok Sabha on January 8, Congress stayed away from the meeting saying said the meeting is a case of “too little too late”.
The meeting was attended by chief minister Neiphiu Rio and deputy chief minister Y Patton along with members of BJP, NPP, JD(U) and the NCP. Naga organizations, which were in attendance were Eastern Naga People's Organisation, the Naga Students' Federation, the Naga Mothers' Association, Nagaland University Teachers Association, among others.
The meeting stated that Nagaland was formed out of the 16-Point Agreement and accordingly Article 371(A) of the Constitution protects and safeguards the rights and privileges of the citizens of the state, where no act of Parliament, shall apply in the state unless the Nagaland Legislative Assembly by a resolution decides so. “The house was of the view that all Naga organisations should have unanimity in supporting this stand in the greater interest of protecting and safeguarding the rights and privileges of our people as enshrined in the Indian Constitution,” another resolution adopted says.
The participants were of the unanimous view that no non-indigenous person can claim rights and privileges in Nagaland under the provisions of Article 371 (A), which ensures that citizens of India who are not indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland cannot acquire property or settle down in Nagaland.
“Thus any person who acquires Indian citizenship through the amended Citizenship Amendment Bill will be as ineligible for acquiring property or settling down in Nagaland as any other non-Nagas including Indian citizens are presently,” the meeting resolved.
The meeting also resolved that the Nagaland assembly should discuss and resolve to enforce ILP regulations all over the state including Dimapur district. The Inner Line Permit mechanism has been provided as per the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.