NEFIP to hold candle light protest across NE

North East Forum for Indigenous People (NEFIP), which has been vocal against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, Thursday informed that the forum would be organizing a “candle light protest” on December 13 evening by 6 p.m. onwards to extend solidarity and unconditional support in all forms of agitation against CAB in the region.

In this regard, NEFIP has appealed to all its federating state members and the indigenous people of NE to take part in the protest.

While affirming that the forum would continue to resist implementation of CAB in the region in order to protect and preserve the culture, identity and from economic exploitation by illegal migrants, NEFIP expressed strong displeasure that the Central government had aggressively pushed the controversial CAB in the Parliament by ignoring the sentiments of the people.

Reminding that the entire region was a block, where no individual state can survive without the other, the forum stated that NE would remain vulnerable and exposed unless the region was protected under a comprehensive mechanism restricting outside interference that will overwhelm the indigenous population of the region. 

It said granting citizenship to foreigners and to naturalize the illegal migrants in the region was the biggest threat, and it ought to be the major concern of the Centre to exempt the region and protect it from the threat of CAB. 

The forum, while extending unflinching solidarity with the indigenous people in the states particularly Tripura and Assam, also condemned the barbarous attack and killing of indigenous people by migrants under the garb of controversial Bill in Tripura and the high handedness of law enforcing agencies against the CAB protesters in Assam. 

NEFIP expressed hope that the controversial and discriminatory Act will not pass the test of legal scrutiny and justice will return to the aggrieved people.

Therefore, NEFIP has appealed to the government of India to exempt the entire North Eastern States from the purview of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019. 

Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) media cell has informed that the candle light vigil will be held at Clock Tower, Dimapur at 4 p.m. December 13 to express solidarity with neighbouring states that has been adversely affected because of CAB and also to show resentment against the unconstitutional bill that was passed in the Parliament.

DNSU has therefore requested all students and concerned citizens to show its resentment by being part of the candle light vigil.