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DIMAPUR — At a public rally in Phek town on April 9, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president and Indian National Congress (INC) candidate for the Lok Sabha election, S Supongmeren Jamir, voiced concerns over the impact of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Nagaland and criticised the ruling NDA government's policies, particularly regarding minorities.
He stated that with the implementation of the CAA, from which Nagaland has been exempted, many of those who would be removed from other states will come to Nagaland, and because Nagaland is not serious about the inner line permit, it may get overwhelmed, according to a press release.
Regarding the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), he appealed to religious leaders of all denominations to vote consciously and expressed disappointment with the Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio, for not maintaining regional identity and for defending the BJP by stating that it is neither anti-minority nor anti-Christian.
He said Neiphiu Rio should refrain from acting like a BJP spokesperson and providing justifications on its behalf. He emphasised that the NDPP should champion the cause of regionalism and not otherwise.
He also claimed that the serial listing of party symbols in the EVMs was erroneous because the symbol of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), a regional party, appeared first.
He claimed that according to the People's Representative Act under Section 38 of 1951, national party symbols should be placed at the top. Therefore, the NDPP, being a regional party, should not come first. He informed the crowd that a complaint had been lodged regarding the same.
He alleged that everything about Christianity has been targeted with bad intent, asserting direct challenges and an infringement on the secular credentials of the nation guaranteed under the Constitution.
He requested that people read the INC manifesto and emphasised several points from it. He expressed confidence that, if given the opportunity, he would fulfil the commitments outlined in the manifesto.
He also urged the gaon buras and village council chairmen to condemn Deputy CM Y Patton's remarks, which suggested that they should vote on behalf of the people and send them to the fields for cultivation.