NPCC says state BJP’s ‘clean chit’ to Patton is an insult to Nagas

Dimapur, April 25 (EMN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has termed the state’s BJP president Temjen Imna Along giving “clean chit to the misdeeds” of Y Patton as an insult to all right-thinking citizens of Nagaland and a total disregard to the rule of law.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the NPCC stated that the arrogance of power has certainly gone into the heads of BJP leaders where they feel that public are idiots and can be taken for a ride. “Blatant doublespeak of the BJP president is evident when he apologises for Y Patton wearing BJP scarf in the same video where he was also seen casting multiple votes, which they stoutly denies (sic).

“Their apology therefore puts the genuineness of video beyond doubt. Since FIR has already been lodged at Wokha police station, (the) state BJP leaders are reminded not to jump the gun or interfere in the process of investigation, as Congress will not remain silent spectator to their arrogance and misdeeds,” read the statement.

On the Nagaland BJP president’s opinion that Article 371 (A) can protect Nagas from the Citizenship Amendment Bill, the NPCC stated that the matter was contradictory to his naive beliefs. “CAB once passed in Parliament and enacted as Law will overshadow Article 371 (A) while giving free access to immigrants to enter Nagaland after they become Indian citizens. No one can stop anyone from settling in any part of the Indian union so long a person is an Indian citizen.

“It is a constitutional right guaranteed by the Indian Constitution to all the citizens of this country. When several thousands of immigrants start migrating to Nagaland from all corners, neither Article 371 (A) nor BEFR 1873 will be able to stop such entries, which will be deemed legal actions under the law,” it stated.

The party contended that any Act of Parliament passed by both the houses would not exempt any state in the country “unless it is clearly mentioned in the Act that such states or UT will be exempted from application of the Act under provisions laid down in the Constitution.”

“The opinion that Article 371 (A) will protect the Nagas is a naive belief that undermines the intellect of the Nagas. Several politicians, retired judges, legal luminaries have already opined that Article 371 (A) and CAB are two completely different issues and that it has no connections to each other.

“The point of contention raised by Imna Along clearly reflects the intention of PDA government to fulfil the dreams of BJP-RSS leaving Naga people at their own risk. When the first decision of PDA cabinet not to oppose the CAB was conveyed to (the) Union Home Minister by (the) chief minister of Nagaland, HM Rajnath Singh congratulated Rio for taking bold decision against the wishes of his own people and the people of NE India,” the statement claimed.

“However, at a later stage under public pressure, PDA decided to oppose CAB under the paradigm that Nagas are protected under Article 371 (A). For PDA government, these two issues have to move together because they cannot back out from their earlier commitment made to central BJP leaders in Delhi.

“Still, if Imna Along and PDA government believe that Article 371 (A) protects Naga people from CAB, we call for an open debate in the presence of civil societies, legal luminaries and retired judges etc., to clear the cloud once and for all.”