Anti-CAA shutdown in Naga areas ends peacefully

Our Correspondent

Kohima, Dec. 14 (EMN): The six-hour shutdown called by Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) in all Naga-inhabited areas to protest the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) went off peacefully on Saturday.

NSF officials said that the bandh was peaceful in the entire Naga areas and extended gratitude to citizens and its subordinate bodies for cooperating with the federation. In Kohima, the Angami Students’ Union volunteered to enforce the shutdown.

Protest in Manipur

The four Naga districts of Manipur observed total shutdown from 6 am to 12 pm, coupled with a protest in Senapati. 

Joseph Adani, the president of All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) told Eastern Mirror that the ‘bandh was very effective in all the districts’. There was total shutdown in all the four Naga districts of Manipur, he said.

In Senapati, the students also staged a protest by holding placards, which read, ‘Say no to CAA’, he said. “The bandh was very successful and effective. It showed that the people were not happy with the CAA. It showed the resentment of the Northeast people against the CAA,” Adani said.

The president went on to add that “CAA is a threat to the indigenous people and we are totally against it”.

“We have sent a strong message to the government of India that Northeast people will not accept CAA because it is a threat to the indigenous people and NE is not a dumping place of illegal immigrants,” Adani said.

The volunteers for the bandh were president of NSF units, Mao Students’ Union, Poumai Students’ Union, and Maram Students’ Union. The ANSAM thanked its units for enforcing the bandh successfully and peacefully.

‘For a genuine cause’

Our Reporter

Dimapur, Dec. 14 (EMN): In Dimapur district, the Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) spearheaded the imposition of the bandh.  

The president of DNSU Sedevilie Angami told Eastern Mirror that although the call for a six-hour bandh was an inconvenience to the public, especially during festive season, it was for a genuine cause.

“Although the total bandh in Nagaland was just for six hours, which is not justified (sic) with the amount of turmoil taking place in Assam and Tripura, this is the least we could do to stand in solidarity with our two sister states. We could have come up (with the protest) before the bill was passed but we are looking forward to the next step,” he said.

He opined that the two MPs from Nagaland, who had voted for CAA, might have done it out of political compulsion. However, he said, ‘we cannot be sure that CAA will not be introduced in our state in the future’.

Former DNSU president Sungkum Aier said that “many people have lost their lives, which shows that people have not accepted the CAA and the government of India should reconsider their judgment”.

In addition, he said, the public should seek explanation from the two MPs who had voted for CAA ‘at the last minute’.

A volunteer at Dillai gate said that it was time for every organisations and individuals to stand up not only for the state but also for the entire north-eastern states. The CAA, he said, “concerns us and there should not be any political colour, and even the political parties should stand with us”. 

Another volunteer at Burma Camp check gate opined that introduction of ILP regime in Dimapur does not guarantee the protection of indigenous people as the neighbouring states will be affected by the CAA. He also added that there should be a “protest in a peaceful manner, which will have a result and not just bandh, which does not guarantee any solution”.

It was informed that the Dimapur Sumi Students’ Union could not send volunteers because of objection to the bandh raised by the Western Sumi Hoho.

AKM demands resignation of two Nagaland MPs

Our Correspondent

Mokokchung, Dec. 14 (EMN): The Ao Students’ Conference (AKM) has asked the two MPs from Nagaland—one each to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha—to step down on moral ground after they had voted in favour of the CAA.

Addressing a press conference in Mokokchung on Saturday, AKM officials said that the Nagaland MPs voting in favour of the CAA was against the interest of the people “and it indicates that they have sold the rights of the Naga people, therefore, they should resign on moral ground.”

Meanwhile, the six-hour shutdown was strictly enforced; spearheaded by AKM, in all the subdivisions and at the district headquarters.

The volunteers were from the six ranges of Mokokchung, Watsu Mungdang, Ao Senden, All Ward Union Mokokchung Town, Mokokchung Aor Telongjem, Sumi Hoho Mokokchung and Sumi Students’ Union Mokokchung.

Government offices, educational institutions and shops remained closed and all vehicular movement restricted during the enforcement of bandh from 6 am to 12 noon.During the bandh, the volunteers also set ablaze anti-CAA placards to express their objection.

Semblance of normalcy

When contacted, journalists from Jorhat district of Assam informed that some semblances of normalcy have returned. However, they felt that it could take another two or three days for the administration to relax curfews.

People were still coming out in mass, at some pockets of the town, to register their protests, they informed.  The situation in Assam has affected Mokokchung socially as well as economically. Only one fuel station in the town is providing fuel, that too rationed under strict supervision of the district administration and police. The Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industry has declared that LPG fuel and perishable items have run out stock in the market.