Nagaland's universities, colleges protest against CAA

Anti-CAA Protest

Our Correspondent

Kohima, Jan. 22 (EMN): Universities and colleges in Nagaland remained closed on Wednesday after several student bodies like the All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) and Dimapur Students' Union (DNSU) called for a total shutdown to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The student community from the state was responding to a call made by the North Eastern Universities Students' Fraternity to shut all higher education institutes in view of the Supreme Court’s hearing of the petitions seeking to examine the constitutional validity of the Act.

Thousands of students from St. Joseph's College (Autonomous), Jakhama (SJCAJ) gathered at Raj Bhavan in Kohima to protest against the Act. SJCAJ president Chumtiba S Sangtam said that ‘the government of India, instead of protecting our people, are torturing us’. While stating that Nagaland would be next after Tripura and Assam (with regard to indigenous people becoming minority in the states), he urged the students not to be ashamed or afraid of protesting against CAA as "it is our land and country and we are fighting for the right cause".

“I am strongly against CAA because it is against the constitution and secularism,” he affirmed. He stated that the government should first solve issues like unemployment and rapid population growth.

“If the government does not follow the constitution, we shall not follow the government,” he stated, adding “If the government does not support the people, we shall not support the government.”

Sangtam told Eastern Mirror that they organised a peaceful rally to show their strong resentment against the CAA. “We are not only standing for the Nagas but also standing for the whole country,” he said.

Ghuvika Yeptho, a 6th semester student of SJCAJ, told this newspaper that he participated in the protest as a Naga. “Nagaland is a small minority state in the country and we are facing lots of unemployment problems; we have a small touch of railway in Nagaland but still then,  we have so many of illegal immigrants coming every year,” he said.

He said that the government should understand the common people, stating: “They are rich and have resources and can sustain to the next generation, but many of us are still suffering and many things are yet to be done.”

Cultural Secretary of SJCAJ Pongkam Konyak also said that CAA would have a lot of negative impact in Nagaland, the state being a part of Northeast. “If we do not stand today, then it will be too late and we are a little late in taking our stand, but it is better late than never,” she added.

President of ANCSU Vimeyiekho Vitso told Eastern Mirror that they were marking the day (January 22) as anti-CAA day. He informed that the union participated in the shutdown of educational institutions along with other north-eastern states following a call made by North Eastern Universities Students' Fraternity, and that the response was overwhelming.

“Our leaders have termed (claimed) that Nagaland is safe under CAA, however we are clear that this act is going to hamper the future of Nagas as well,” he said.

"CAA is not only about Nagaland but the rest of the North East, and when our neighbouring states are posed with such threats, the other neighbouring states can never be assured of any safety in the near future," he said, adding that “we want to defend along with the neighbouring state and oppose the CAA”.

On Minister of Technical and Higher Education, and Tribal affairs, Temjen Imna Along voicing in support of CAA, he said: ‘It is very unfortunate for students of the state to have a minister not representing the aspirations of the youths and the students. However, they being political leaders are inclined to their political heads, so maybe they have to act as per the directive from heads of the centre, but it is very unfortunate to hear such statement from a responsible minister.’

General Secretary of ANCSU, Imnameren N Jamir also released a statement acknowledging all the colleges and Nagaland Theological Colleges’ Association for participating in the protest.

“The response of the colleges is overwhelming; with positive response and the coming together of the universities and colleges in resentment against the CAA, 2019, has strongly indicated the voice of the north-eastern masses against the ill-repercussion of the act,” read the statement.

The ANCSU also stated that it will continue to represent the aspiration and voice of the students in all circumstances.

Dimapur colleges respond positively

Our Reporter

Universities and colleges in Dimapur responded positively to the call of the Dimapur Students' Union (DNSU) to observe a total shutdown on January 22 in solidarity with the student fraternity from Northeast.

A DNSU executive told Eastern Mirror that colleges that had scheduled events were exempted from the shutdown. However, it was learnt that some colleges, which had internal tests scheduled on Wednesday, were suspended and postponed due to the appeal made by the student fraternity.

The DNSU official said that further course of action would depend on the outcome of the Supreme Court's hearing of petitions filed in connection with the Act. 

Nagaland University, Lumami

Our Correspondent

In protest against the CAA, the Nagaland University Research Scholar's Forum (NURSF) observed a total shutdown of Nagaland University, Lumami campus in Zunheboto district on January 22.

An update from NURSF said that the protest was held following a call by North Eastern Universities Students' Fraternity.

Scholars in the campus participated in the protest by voicing their resentment and displeasure on the Act. “The scholar community feels that there must be a sincere discourse on the matter from all responsible citizens," it stated.

They also pointed out that the system and functioning of Inner Line Permit (ILP) need to be changed and strengthened in the state. There might come a time when ILP and Article 371 (A) will be scrapped and it will no longer help in protecting the citizens, they stated.

The scholars staged the protest in front of the university’s administration block and concluded by convening a meeting where they discussed the issue at length.

BJP politicised CAA — NPCC

The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has condemned the “repeated statements” made by the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, and Tribal affairs, Temjen Imna Along, on CAA, claiming that it was the BJP that politicised the Act by “making religion as the basis for citizenship”.

“Moreover, Temjen Imna Along got his facts wrong on Nagaland being a 6th Schedule State. This only showed his ignorance and eagerness to indulge in talking without ascertaining facts which is unbecoming of a person holding high position in party as well as in government,” read the statement by NPCC.

Terming the argument that ILP will safeguard Nagaland from CAA as a “false assurance”, the NPCC said the state is unable to check the influx of illegal immigrants despite having ILP for several decades. It also said “CAA exemption based on ILP is just a ploy to divide the NE region”.

While appreciating university and college students for spearing protests against CAA, the NPCC said that silence of the Naga groups and civil society organisations on the matter is “baffling and shocking.”