Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has appealed to the state government for extension of Bengal Eastern Regulation Act (BERA) of 1873 to cover the entire administrative jurisdiction of Nagaland, saying that partial enforcement negated the objectivity of the protective laws of the land.
In a memorandum addressed to the state chief minister, the NTC president Lendinoktang Ao and general secretary Nribemo Ngullie said when Statehood was given to Nagaland, special constitutional provisions were incorporated in Art 371(A) of the Constitution of India. In addition, NTC said Nagaland was equipped with BERA 1873 also called Inner line Permit (ILP).
It said the purpose of providing those special provisions was to insulate Nagaland and its indigenous inhabitants from undue exploitations and possible suppression by outsiders.
Pointing out that ILP has been partially enforced in the state of Nagaland leaving Dimapur district uncovered, the NTC said de-reservation of Dimapur area has become the anti-thesis of the policy of reservation.
“In fact, Dimapur has become the buffer zone for the massive migration of illegal immigrants besides being the launching ground for their exploitive activities against the interest of the indigenous Nagas of Nagaland,” stated NTC.
Further, the council asserted that immense concentration of lakhs of people in a tiny state like Nagaland from outside and particularly those of the illegal immigrants has posed serious threats to the economy, the faith, the culture and tradition, the politics and to the very existence of the indigenous people of Nagaland.
At this rate, NTC said the indigenous Nagas of Nagaland would become secondary citizens and servants to the floating population in all respect sooner than expected.
Unless the government woke up to the clarion call that there was no alternative to self-defence, NTC said it was going to be too late.
Also, the NTC reminded the state government that when the government of Assam intensified its NRC process and streamlining of its citizenship, Nagaland was “unarguably the soft target.” It explained that when the Assam flashes out the rejected population, the easiest and most convenient haven was Nagaland.
In the light of the above, the NTC has demanded the revocation of the de-reservation of Dimapur area and place it on a par with the rest of other areas for uniform enforcement of ILP and all other protective provisions kept in the Constitution of India without delay.
