Our Correspondent
Kohima Feb. 25 (EMN): Leader of opposition, TR Zeliang accused Chief Minister Rio of not objecting the Citizenship Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha on July 15, 2016 when the latter was a Lok Sabha MP.
Speaking on the fourth day of the ongoing NLA session, Zeliang said Rio failed to perform his “bounden duty of consulting and taking into confidence the voice of the people since the said Bill was referred to the Joint committee for examination—which took over a year.”
“Neiphiu Rio should have raised the issue in such a way that Nagaland was exempted from the bill in line with Article 371(A). The voice of the people is Supreme and no matter how much mudslinging takes place between political parties, the Naga people recognizes who is doing what”, he said.
Zeliang, while sharing his opinion on the Citizenship Bill stated that, Article 371(A) is liable to be interpreted according to the advantage of the union government and that we cannot be complacent and totally depend on it to safeguard our indigenous status even in the case of Citizenship Bill.
“When subjects which are clearly within the purview of article 371 (A) can be superseded by central government through other empowered acts, how can the PDA government assure the people that Article 371 (A) will protect the Nagas from CAB, 2016 without any mention made in the Bill?” he questioned.
He added, once the Act is passed, even the GBs or village council chairman cannot prevent issuing of citizenship to “any illegal immigrants” as such certificates will be issued by district officials; and if denied, they will go to any court and the court will decide as per the Act.
