Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF) claimed that “taking a stand against the CAA 2019, 22 stalwarts of Nagaland BJP leaders have left the saffron party to join NPF.
Imphal| Twenty-two Nagaland State Unit members of the BJP, including its Co-Convenor for Law and Legal Affairs, Toshi Longkumer and former Minority Morcha President, Mukibur Rahman joined the opposition Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF) on Wednesday.
A press release from the NPF press bureau stated that the BJP members joined the opposition “taking a strong stand against the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019.”
Shürhozelie welcomed the BJP leaders to the NPF family and said that they have made the right decision at the right time and right moment, the release stated. NPF though being in the opposition today holds the unique identity of the Naga people and claimed that NPF is not just to fight for the elections but to represent the Naga people, the release stated.
Many regional political parties came into being and when they are defeated, the party disappeared, the NPF president said adding that NPF will be there till the Naga people exist.
During the occasion, former BJP leader, Mukibur Rahman was reported as stating that one of the main reasons for the state BJP leaders leaving the party was the introduction of the CAA and stated that sooner or later the Act will affect the people, particularly the North East region.
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In December, the Nagaland government had extended the Inner Line Permit system to the whole of Dimapur district with immediate effect. The permit is a document that outsiders need before travelling to places defined as “protected areas” in some states in the Northeast.
The Inner Line Permit system covers the whole of Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, most of Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura, Manipur and certain pockets of Assam.
Rahman said that with the introduction of the CAA, the whole North East region is at risk, adding that “the Inner line permit (ILP) is not going to stop them from entering our state.”
The Citizenship Amendment Act 2019, which has been widely criticised for excluding Muslims, triggered nationwide protests since December. In the North East, people have protested against the law as they believe it threatens the region’s indigenous cultures.
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