Naga Scholars’ Association (NSA) Kohima Unit organised a panel discussion on the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) at Kohima College, Kohima on March 4.
Professor Rosemary Dzuvichu, department of English, Nagaland University was the moderator and the resource persons included former minister, Merentoshi R. Jamir; Naga Hoho president, P. Chuba Ozukum; former NSF president and NPF spokesperson, Achumbemo Kikon; and St Joseph College assistant professor, Dr. Keluhol Tase.
NSA Kohima president, Dr. Zavise Rume, in his welcome address said the discussion was being held to assess the contents of the CAB and its impacts. He added that the discussion was an academic exercise and non political in nature.
Professor Rosemary Dzuvichu said opposing the CAB was the first time the North East worked together as a region. As indigenous people, the people of the region have experienced their rights and liberties being violated, she added. Professor Dzuvichu also expressed concern that the bill that was passed in the Lok Sabha without much hindrance and pointed out that this was a “dangerous sign.”
She suggested that India has to seriously look into refugee law (citing the examples Chakmas, Tibetans Rohingya refugees, Sri Lankan Tamil refugees) and come up with a comprehensive refugee law through proper legislation and then seriously talk about the Citizenship Bill.
Merentoshi R. Jamir, addressing the gathering, said the original Act never mentioned any particular community or religion. He however pointed out that the 2016 bill inserted certain clauses which were objectionable to the people of the North East because they posed threats to the region. According to Merentoshi, there are people in India who regret giving Article 371A to Nagaland and are ready to revoke or dilute it. He added that it was the responsibility of the Nagas to protect the Article.
P. Chuba Ozukum, in his address, said India was trying to dominate the North East region by sending thousands of illegal migrants through the CAB bill. The president said it was misleading on the part of the state government to say that Nagas could be protected under Article 371A.
He asserted that the CAB and Article 371A were vastly different and had no connection whatsoever with each other. Achumbemo Kikon, in his address, said that if the bill was passed, the most affected will be the North Eastern states considering the geography of the country’s borders.
“If our people are to survive as an indigenous people, we have make a stand and not shy away” he said.
Dr. Keluhol Tase, presented a brief background of the CAB bill and said that it was introduced as the Citizenship Act, 1955 and the CAB (2016) bill. It proposed a reduction in the 12 years of residency before citizenship, to six years. He pointed out that the bill specifically mentioned countries and religion as criteria for citizenship.