Nagaland to call bandh on February 11 against CAB

Guwahati: The state of Nagaland will observe a 12-hour bandh on February 11 called by Nagaland Gaon Burhas Federation (NGBF) supported by tribal hohos and civil society organizations against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

The federation took the decision at a meeting held with tribal hohos and civil society groups which entrusted all apex tribal organizations to impose the band in their districts.

Supporting the decision, the Central Nagaland Students' Association (CNSA) on Friday urged its units to enforce the bandh. All the apex tribal organizations would take responsibility to organize the band in their own districts.

The CNSA President Himato Yeputho said that the association fully supports and endorse the initiative taken by NGBF to oppose the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and for early settlement of the Naga political issue.

The federation has submitted memorandum to the President and Prime Minister of India to withhold assent if the citizenship bill is passed by the Rajya Sabha and also appealed for early solution to Naga political issues.

The federation has also taken a resolution to observe prayer on Sunday in all churches in Nagaland on the two issues.

The Eastern Nagaland People's Organization (ENPO) has also urged the Nagaland government to convene a special Assembly session to review and pass an Assembly resolution as per the provision under Article 371 (A) of the Indian Constitution opposing the controversial citizenship bill.

The organization also submitted a letter to the President of India in which it has stated that the six tribes under ENPO namely Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Sangtam and Yimchunger have taken a resolution of opposing the bill.

The letter asserted that the ENPO would oppose the Bill “tooth and nail” to uphold the legitimate rights of the Nagas.

Meanwhile, the Joint Committee on Prevention of Illegal Immigration (JCPI) said that the bill is unconstitutional and against the sentiment of the whole northeast people and also said that the band has been called to attract the attention of the central government on the seven decades old Naga issue and that it should be settled before the upcoming Lok Sabha polls to be held in April-May.

Also Read: Protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019