Nagaland Protesters Hit the Streets Amid Centre's Resolve to Enact Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

Kohima, October 3, 2019:

The Northeast Forum for Indigenous People (NEFIP) and the Joint Committee on Prevention of Illegal Immigration (JCPI) are marching against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Nagaland capital Kohima today.

The march will be held from the Badminton Stadium, Raj Bhawan Road Kohima, and culminate at the office residence of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.

It may be recalled that the JCPI and the NEFIP decided to launch regional protests against the Bill at the first NEFIP Central Executive Council meeting in Kohima. The protesters have demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Bill and have stated every intention to launch democratic protests if the Bill is re-introduced.

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Theja Therieh, the Vice President of the NEFIP wrote to Nagaland's Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, urging him . "We shall be grateful if the Government of Nagaland under your able leadership takes up with the Central leadership to respect the sentiment of the people in the region in general and the state of Nagaland in particular and to withdraw the contentious Bill in the interest of peace and harmony".

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It may be mentioned here that the Bill seeks to provide citizenship to minority communities from neighboring countries, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill have also been launched in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

Civil society groups and social activists in Manipur have launched a massive protest in state capital Imphal on Thursday, against the Centre’s move to implement the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The Manipur People Against CAB (MANPAC) have also extended support to the agitators.

The people of the state have moved to the streets chanting slogans against the Citizenship Bill and holding placards decrying the ‘jati destroying’ Bill. School and college going students from Imphal have also joined the protest.

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