Nagaland Legislative Assembly ratifies 126th Amendment Bill, 2019

If we fail this time, we will be missing a golden opportunity, says Ravi on Naga political issue

Our Correspondent

Kohima, Jan. 17 (EMN): The Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), in its fifth assembly session of the 13^th NLA on January 17, ratified the Constitution (126^th) Amendment Bill, 2019, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 9, 2019 and passed by both the houses of Parliament.

The bill, which amends the provision relating to the reservation quota for Schedule Tribes (STs) and Schedule Castes (SCs), was unanimously adopted by the house.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, before adopting the resolution, explained to the house that the amendment was made with regard to Article 334 that relates to reservation of seats for the STs and SCs, and the representation of the Anglo-Indian community by nomination in the house of the people and legislative assemblies of the states.

This provision, which has been provided for a period of 70 years from the commencement of the constitution, will expire on January 25, 2020. The bill seeks to extend the reservation for STs and SCs for another 10 years i.e. till January 25, 2030.

The leader of the house, Rio, said “Nagaland is a direct beneficiary of this provision and that 59 out of the 60 seats are reserved for STs of Nagaland,” while maintaining that the unreserved seat from Dimapur, can be discussed later.

Ravi on Naga political issue

Delivering the customary governor’s address, the governor of Nagaland and Meghalaya, RN Ravi maintained, “The negotiations which were going on for the past many years between the government of India and the Naga political groups have been successfully concluded.”

Ravi urged various organisations to unite for an early settlement and said, “If we fail this time, then we will be missing a golden opportunity”, while expressing appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for their “unwavering commitment, determination and constant guidance” that had ensured the progress of peace talks.

He also appreciated the Joint Legislators’ Forum (JLF) on Naga political issue, which was reconstituted on September 18, 2018 comprising all the 60 elected members cutting across the party lines to facilitate “the final solution to the prolonged Naga political issue which is honourable, acceptable and recognises the uniqueness of the history of the Naga people”.

“My government also welcomes the positive role played by the various tribal Hohos, mass-based organisations, churches and civil society who made every effort to help create a favourable atmosphere so that negotiations between the various parties could proceed unhindered in a positive direction,” Ravi added.

CAB/CAA 2019, ILP

The governor maintained that the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 (now Citizenship Amendment Act), before being laid in the parliament, had led to serious apprehension among the people because “of the possible impact on the existence itself of the indigenous people of Nagaland on account of the Bill having provisions of allowing conferment of citizenship to people belonging to six minority communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh” who have entered the country on or before December 31, 2014 without valid documents or the documents expired.

“There were concerns raised on the possibility of the indigenous people of the state getting demographically overwhelmed and seriously marginalised by people from outside because of provisions of the said Act,” Ravi said.

He went on to assert that his government had notified the centre about the special status granted to the state under Art 371(A) and the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime under Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) 1873 did not provide any ground for applicability of CAB 2019 in the state.

Ravi clarified that as Dimapur sub-division was constituted as a tribal belt only on November 21 in 1979, a distinction has been made where the non-indigenous people who settled prior to this date will not require ILP, and that it applies to those who entered the state after the date.

He assured the non-indigenous people settled in Dimapur that the extension of the ILP regime will not adversely affect their legitimate rights and interest as citizens of the country in any manner, saying “all efforts are being made to ensure that the process of identification of those who may require ILP and those who will have to apply and get ILP is done in a non-discriminatory and transparent manner.”

The governor stated that the protection and safeguarding of the rights and identity of the indigenous people of the state have always remained a priority. He added that with the creation of the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), a master list of all indigenous inhabitants of the state, issuance of false indigenous certificates to non-eligible persons will be prevented, which in turn will protect the rights and entitlements that are due to the indigenous persons.

Further, he maintained that once the commission that was constituted to study, examine and advice on RIIN exercise submits its report, the modalities will be tabled in the house for deliberation. He stated that the initiation and the exercise would be a major milestone towards protecting the interest of the indigenous people of the state.

Ravi also highlighted the initiatives of the government and its achievement in ensuring good governance, development, and empowerment of the people.

“Law must be enforced and respect for the law must become a way of life,” Ravi said.