Nagaland Assembly discusses impact of CAA & NRC
Kohima, Feb 8:
The Nagaland Legislative Assembly discussed at length thr Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens during the ongoing session.
Dr. Chotisuh Sazo, opposition MLA initiated the discussion on matters of urgent Public importance pertaining to CAB 2016/CAA 2019 and NRC.
He brought to the notice of the house the threats posed by the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 to the people of Nagaland and the state as whole, the biggest threat being the problem of Bangladesh immigrants coming to the State.
He said that in the long run it will burden our limited resources and also pose a serious threat to our way of life, our culture, language and traditions.
He further stressed on the CAA being totally against the ethos of the Indian Constitution and is a clear violation of Art. 14 and Art. 25 of the Constitution. The only solution to the problem would be to scrap the CAA, he said.
Dr.Chumben Murry, MLA also gave weightage to the argument against CAA by saying the CAA is discriminatory in nature and that Nagaland will not be protected by Art 371 (A) and ILP regulations under BEFR 1873 as any matters pertaining to Citizenship comes under the Union List which means that the center has sole power to decide over any issue regarding Citizenship.
He concluded by expressing his fears over economic exploitation by non Nagas as a result of the CAA.
Leader of the Opposition, T.R. Zeliang said that the Government should study the effects of settlement of People from other states and its impact so that the future is secure.
He emphasised on the need for strict implementation on the provision of ILP. Regulation Act in Nagaland.
Advisor, School Education, K.Tokugha Sukhalu informed the house not to create any fear psychosis or panic through the implementation of CAA as Nagas interest are well protected.
Sukhalu mentioned that the Government has to strictly implement the regulation of inner Line permit Act to safe guard the interest of the Naga people.
Minister, Higher & Technical Education, Temjen Imna Along joining the discussion said that the bill was passed by the Parliament of India on 11 December 2019 and provide a path to Indian citizenship for illegal migrants of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian religious minorities who had fled persecution from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan before 31st December 2014.
The amendment also relaxed the residence requirement for naturalisation of these migrants from 11 years to 5 years, he added.
Along expressed concern that the Act has been widely criticized by politicising it in a negative way creating fear psychosis among our people.
He advised not to mislead the people and the propagandas should not be misinterpreted.
He assured that the Act will not harm our political rights, culture and land rights as Nagaland is excluded from the preview of CAA and special status for our state have been incorporated in the central list. He also called upon the treasury bench and opposition parties to come together and find a solution to safeguard the community as a whole.
Deputy Chief Minister, Y. Patton in his concluding remark stated that the state is fully aware of the Act and several consultative meetings with the political parties, representatives from various organisations Hohos was held, in this connection the PDA government approached the central government and apprised about the grievances and have made progressive results.
He also mentioned that CAA will not scrap our special status 371 (A) or ILP regime and added that Nagaland was exempted from the preview of CAA.
In another achievement he said that the PDA government went against the wishes of the central government to bring in Dimapur under the preview of ILP to save the indigenous and cultural tradition or our State.
