Nagaland Higher and Technical Education Minister and Nagaland BJP president Temjen Imna Along Longkumer has demanded implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Nagaland to protect the Naga people and save Nagaland from immigrants.
The Nagaland Minister made this demand while speaking at a programme organised to mark the 6th Longpok Semchir Telongjem Mungdang at Mokokchung on Wednesday.
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A report published on Wednesday by Eastern Mirror quoted Longkumer as saying that as BJP president, he wants implementation of the NRC in Nagaland.
However, the Central Government in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha clarified that they have no plan to extend the NRC being updated in Assam in other States.
Also read: No plan to extend Assam’s NRC, Centre tells Rajya Sabha
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The NRC, a register containing genuine Indian citizens, is being updated in Assam under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court. While the first draft NRC in Assam was published at midnight on December 31, 2017, the final draft NRC in Assam was published on July 30, 2018.
When asked about the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, Longkumer replied: “To safeguard the Naga people against any infringement we should strengthen the roots of our tradition and culture beliefs and practices.”
The report quoted the minister as saying “safeguarding the traditional and cultural identity in the midst of any Bill is more important because it is the best way to be identified.”
The minister graced the valedictory function of the 6th Longpok Semchir Telongjem Mungdang at Town Hall in Mokokchung.
Speaking on the occasion, the Nagaland BJP president said in the current Naga context, there is a tremendous clash between the traditional and modern culture where the young generations are “confused”.
Longkumer also lamented that “the rich cultural heritage left behind by our forefathers is rapidly disappearing and many youngsters do not know about their cultural background” as “globalisation has captured the entire world.”