Nagaland CM informs Centre Citizenship Bill shall not apply to state

Guwahati, January 21, 2019:

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has written a letter to Union Home Minister stating that the proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is not applicable in the state of Nagaland as per provisions of Article 371 (A) which was instituted before the creation of the state of Nagaland, giving special privileges to the state. Among the provisions given to the state is the “ownership and transfer of land and its resources.”

In effect, the Article assures that life in Nagaland will not be impacted by Parliamentary enactments unless it is decided by a Legislation Assembly resolution.

A Cabinet meeting chaired by Rio on Friday had also asserted that the state of Nagaland is also protected under provisions of the Inner Line Permit as per Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR).

The Cabinet has also resolved to appeal the government to review its position on the Bill after consulting leaders of the Northeast region.

With this stand, the Nagaland CM has joined the list of Northeastern leaders who feel that the region will be adversely affected by the implementation of the proposed Bill.