Dimapur, Feb. 12 (EMN): Political parties outside the People’s Democratic Alliance-combine (PDA)continue to attack the ruling government in Nagaland over the issue of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
“…the PDA government is trying to confuse the Naga people by underscoring that under any circumstances the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 is passed, the Nagas were protected under ILP and Article 371 A and upholding it in the two cabinet decisions of 5th June 2018 and 7th Jan. 2019,” read a statement from the Naga People’s Front on Tuesday.
“The PDA government is of the view that Nagas can take shelter under Article 371A and BEFR 1873, but these provisions cannot stop a person from obtaining Indian Citizenship anywhere in India. If Lok Sabha MP, Tokheho Yepthomi belonging to the NDPP party (sic) did not vote in favour of the Citizenship Amendment Bill, the NDPP should come out clean instead of asking NPF party to provide proofs. Simply to wash off their hands, PDA government cannot include the two special provisions in every decision and resolution they take.
“It may be mentioned that, immediately after the cabinet decision was taken on 5th June 2018, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his cabinet team rushed to Delhi and reported to Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh that the PDA government had decided not to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 to which the Home Minister reciprocated with a big congratulation,” it stated.
Therefore, the party claimed, the PDA government “should respect the intellect of the Nagas and desist itself from misguiding the Nagas any further.”
“NDPP and PDA are clearly maintaining a double standard. On one hand, the state cabinet has taken a U-turn decision from its original stand, to now ‘oppose and reject’ CAB in Nagaland blaming civic societies while on the other hand, NDPP MP praised BJP government in Parliament on 7th February, 2019 for four-lane road.
“He very conveniently and deliberately ignored CAB in his speech. He expressed dismay over delay in political solution but praised the BJP government indicating political solution and the burning CAB issues are secondary. Neiphiu Rio with his cabinet colleagues also held cordial parleys with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on 10th Feb 2019 but were silent on CAB,” it stated.
The party maintained that the chief minister cannot “continue to cheat, fool or betray his subjects.”
