National People’s Party (NPP) imposes CAA gag order on members

A Correspondent

SHILLONG: The National People’s Party (NPP) has warned its members against commenting on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

“As our party has already made its stand very clear about CAA, it is hereby directed to all the members of the party to refrain from passing any comment, in their official capacity on CAA without prior permission from the national president,” national general secretary of the NPP and MLA, Thomas A Sangma said.

In its notification issued on January 1, 2020, by national general secretary of the party, it states that it has come to the knowledge of the National Executive Committee of the party that certain members of the NPP are commenting on the political and social impact of the CAA upon the general people of the Northeast.

The notification further states that no member shall have the right or authority to initiate legal proceedings before any court of law including the Supreme Court of India regarding the subject matter of the CAA.

Further, the NPP also clarified that no members of the party shall take part in any rally under the party’s banner, whether such rally is in support or against CAA, without prior permission from the national president.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is the national president of the NPP. Recently, senior NPP leader from Arunachal Pradesh, Nabam Vivek, resigned from the primary membership of the party citing the adverse stand of the party on CAA. Vivek who had contested the last Assembly election from Doimukh on NPP ticket stated in his resignation letter which was submitted on December 31 that though the party proclaimed to uphold regional aspirations with a national outlook, the reality is different.

According to him, the national president of the NPP in opposing the CAB, 2016 was remarkable and won the heart of many youth in the Northeast.

“But to our utter surprise and dismay, the NPP took a U-turn in the CAB 2019 and voted in favour of this unconstitutional and divisive act, which in long run will change the demography of entire Northeast,” he said in his resignation letter.

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