Nagaland: Citizenship Bill will change demography of NE: Neiphiu Rio

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KOHIMA | September 10, 2019:

Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio on Monday said that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill which is a highly controversial will completely change the demography of the Northeast, if it is implemented by the Centre.

CM Rio had strongly opposed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the fourth NEDA conclave and said that all the Northeastern states had resolved earlier that they would not let the legislation affect the region.

"We believe it will change the demography of the North East. We need to understand the ground situation," Rio said. He hoped that Shah and the central government would "listen to us".

Rio also said that the negotiations on the Naga Peace accord were at an advanced stage.

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"We are hopeful of a solution very soon. We have also formed a joint legislation group," he added.

Rio also sought support of all the states of the region to amicably settle the Nagaland issue as it was the "mother of all issues in the Northeast".