ILP in no way takes away the rights of any Indian citizen and neither a discrimination against non-Nagas
In the backdrop of a PIL being filed by one Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay in Supreme Court against extension of ILP to Dimapur and the public apprehension arising out of it thereafter, NDPP reiterated that the PDA government had already decided to extend ILP regime to in the entire state including Dimapur district.
It may be mentioned that Nagaland Post had published the details of the ILP committee report and it recommendations, submitted to the state cabinet on February 15, 2019.
The state government has also planned to introduce the Indigenous Inhabitants Registration Certificate (IIRC), with the aim to curb the menace of illegal immigrants in the state.
Pointing out that Nagaland and Manipur Governor PB Acharya had also informed the state Assembly on February 21 this year, that the government had accepted the ILP committee report and directives issued for framing rules and guidelines for its implementation, NDPP in a statement reiterated that the Abhishek Singh Committee report was approved for implementing ILP in the entire State, including Dimapur.
The move, according to the party, followed the clarion call of the people of Nagaland for implementing ILP and the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR), 1873 throughout Nagaland, which arose due to the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
NDPP claimed the State government had responded positively to the call of civil societies and NGOs, which had unanimously resolved during a consultative meeting with the State government on January 31, 2019 at Rhododendron Hall, Chümoukedima that ILP should be extended throughout Nagaland, including Dimapur. Accordingly, the State cabinet deliberated on the issue on February 15 and took the decision to implement ILP all over the State, including Dimapur. The Abhishek Singh Committee’s recommendations were approved and the decision to frame regulations for implementation of the committee’s report undertaken, it pointed out.
Clarifying that there was no question of the State government’s decision infringing upon the life, liberty, properties and fundamental rights of the non-Nagas living in Dimapur, the ruling party pointed out that despite the existence of ILP regime in rest of the State, there was still a good number of non-Nagas living in those areas in harmony with Naga people. The ILP regime would not debar any non-Naga from entering Nagaland, it stressed.
According to the party, the ILP was only a mechanism to keep in check 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 a discrimination against the non-Nagas. It also does not debar a non-Naga from working in the State. The imposition of ILP also does not mean that the non-Naga traders will have to close down their businesses. In fact, the committee’s report has provisions for protection of all sections, including non-Nagas, traders, floating working population, other North-eastern citizens, tourists, travellers in transit, etc,” the statement explained.
NDPP claimed that the aim of the State government was to streamline the system, use modern technology for better implementation and also to take steps to check influx of illegal immigrants, combat crime and anti-social elements and ensure safety and security for all citizens.
Pointing out that Nagas by nature had always been accommodating and had welcomed people with open arms into their homes, NDPP explained that the Government of India, while granting statehood to Nagaland and 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 and ILP regime. However, over the years, the accommodative nature of the Nagas had been taken advantage of and also the unfortunate misuse of ILP resulted 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 so that entire Nagaland was covered by this regulation, which would help maintain checks and balances on those people coming and going from the State so as to protect “our people and our land”, the party added.
While appreciating the concerns raised by different sections on the issue, NDPP asserted that the PDA government was sincere in its commitment to protect the rights of “our people” and strive for an early resolution to the decades-old Naga Issue.
However, it termed as unfortunate that at such a crucial stage between the ongoing peace talks between the Government of India and NNPGs, an individual who did not understand the issue, had come forward to jeopardise the “hard-earned breakthroughs” over the years through dialogue and discussions.
The party further clarified that the sole purpose of its leaders going to Delhi was to felicitate Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his newly-inducted council of ministers as the PDA was a constituent member of the NDA government at the Centre. However, it claimed that in none of their interactions with the leaders in Delhi neither the topic of ILP or BEFR was raised or discussed. Just as the people were taken aback, the party claimed that even the PDA and all its leaders were equally taken by surprise by the PIL.
Further asserting that Dimapur had always been an integral part of Naga Hills, NDPP said the question of Dimapur being a part of Assam did not arise under any circumstances. It urged all persons and organisations concerned to take necessary measures so that the matter of PIL was resolved in an amicable manner at the earliest.
The party also appealed to the non-Naga permanent residents of not only Dimapur but all over Nagaland to 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”.
NDPP finally appealed to all citizens of Nagaland to stand firm and united in their resolve to protect “our rights, privileges and identity from any adversary”, while it assured the people of the State of leaving no stone unturned in the collective endeavour of protecting their rights and ensure safety and peace in the State.