NSF calls 6-hour Nagaland bandh to protest Citizenship (Amendment) Act
Kohima/UNI: Normal life came to a halt this morning throughout Nagaland following a lightening call for a six-hour state-wide total bandh by the apex student body, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) to express resentment of the Naga people against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), which it said, was passed in Parliament much against the interests and the sentiments of the indigenous people in the north-eastern states.
According to a press release issued by NSF Vice President Dievi Yano and General Secretary Liremo R Kikon has called for a six-hour total bandh in all the Naga inhibited areas on December 14 starting from 6 am to 12 noon and condemned the action of the Government of India for passing the Bill “without taking into account the sentiments and plea of the indigenous inhabitants of the North East States.”
The NSF stated that it would “never support CAB which is the latest weapon of the Centre to divide the North-Eastern people on concessional lines.” NSF has, however, exempted students appearing examinations, medical staff on duty, media personnel and wedding goers (to provide wedding card) from purview of the proposed bandh.
Stating that the Act is “discriminatory, anti-indigenous, anti-minority,” it demanded that the entire North Eastern states should be left out from the purview of the Act. It added that the federation would “spare no effort and together with the NESO, take necessary democratic and legal measures to ensure that the law does not take effect on even a small pocket in the entire North-East Region”.
The NSF has directed all the federating units and sub-ordinate bodies to “take up all necessary measures” to ensure that the total bandh was carried out successfully in their respective jurisdiction. It also asked all units to forward a compliance report accompanied by pictorial or video proof to the office of NSF.
The NSF further appealed to all responsible citizens and stakeholders to extend support and cooperation in the fight to protect the existence and the identity of the indigenous people.
The NSF also expressed displeasure at the three Naga Members of Parliament from Nagaland and Manipur, TokhehoYepthomi (LS), K G Kenye (RS) and Lorhe S. Pfoze (LS, Manipur), for voting in favour of the CAB “without considering the threat and the consequences” that it posed to the indigenous inhabitants of North East States.
NSF demanded that the three MPs publicly state the rationale behind their support for the Bill, now an Act, and also explain to the general public, as to why the Act will not affect the people they represent.
Image Credit: UNI
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