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DIMAPUR — The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) said that the escalating crisis in Bangladesh is an “existential threat” to the Naga homeland.
In a statement in released on Thursday, the federation claimed that reports of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants already slipping into the state have surfaced. Urging immediate action to prevent a “demographic onslaught,” it called upon its federating units and subordinate bodies to rigorously monitor and curb any such inflow.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the Nagaland government’s perceived inaction on the issue, it demanded the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime across the districts of Dimapur, Chümoukedima, and Niuland within 14 days.
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“Any delay in enforcing these measures will be seen as a failure to protect the Naga people and an abdication of the government’s duty,” it asserted.
Stating that it would monitor the situation closely, the NSF said it would “any course of action” if the government doesn't implement the ILP regime within the given timeframe.
To buttress its point, the NSF pointed to historical instances — the 1947 partition and the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War — as evidence of the disruptive and permanent impacts of mass immigration from Bangladesh on the Northeast region’s demographics and culture.
“This threat, if not addressed, will erode the very fabric of our identity, culture, and future”, it asserted, urging every Naga to remain alert, report suspicious activities, and extend their cooperation in stopping this “demographic invasion.”
“The NSF iterates that this is not just another issue – this is an existential threat. The demographic shift we are witnessing is not merely a number on a chart; it represents the dilution of Naga culture, our way of life, and our future as an indigenous people. We will not stand idle as our homeland is turned into a refuge for illegal immigrants”, the statement read.
Furthermore, the NSF directed a pointed message to “all Naga Political Groups,” demanding they cease any activities that might provide “patronage or safe haven to non-locals.”
“Any group or entity that has provided patronage or safe haven to non-locals must cease immediately. This is not a time for political manoeuvring; it is a time to unite in the face of a common threat. We will not tolerate any interference that compromises the efforts of the NSF to protect the Naga homeland from this growing menace,” it asserted.
It also called upon every individual, organisation, and government entity to recognise the gravity of this threat and act swiftly. “This is a fight for our very existence, and we must rise as one to defend our homeland,” it added.