The Lotha Hoho (LH) on Wednesday termed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which was passed by the Lok Sabha during the just-concluded Winter Session of Parliament as ‘anti-Naga’.
The Lotha Hoho in a press statement issued through its media and publicity cell stated the Bill seemed to be the ‘ultimate concern’ for the minority ethnic people especially of Northeast and particularly for the Nagas.
In this regard, the Hoho has urged the Naga leaders to act before the Bill gets passed in the Rajya Sabha, reports The Nagaland Post. ‘Once the Bill gets through the Rajya Sabha no amount of resentment will undo that,’ the statement read.
The Lotha Hoho has, also questioned the stoic silence maintained by ‘our Naga leaders’ and urged them to make use of the provisions available for protection of the Naga people whom they are representing.
It also asked the sitting Lok Sabha MP to raise strong voice against the bill.
The Lotha Hoho also questioned the Naga tribal and other organizations as to why they are maintaining silence and not coming forward to oppose the contentious bill tooth and nail.
Stating that Nagas have provisions such as BEFRA 1873, Article 371 A, 16- Point Agreement for their protection, the Lotha Hoho, however, asserted that Nagas needed to make use of the constitutional provisions or Agreements.
It further pointed out that all the provisions of the 16-Point agreement need to be claimed particularly Clause 1, 11, 12 and 13 (to be under External Ministry, Financial Assistance, Restoration of Transferred Reserved Forests, Consolidation of Contiguous Naga Areas).
It said that leaders of Nagaland did not seem to care to know the provisions to safeguard Nagas.
The Lotha Hoho further alleged that the leaders, instead of making use of the provisions ‘become restless and in their hurry to please the Central leaders, accept Acts and policies without caring to ponder on the consequences of adopting such policies.’