The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has issued a “clear and unambiguous message” to all Naga Political Groups (NPGs) not to interfere in the exercise to check illegal immigration in the State by its Federating Units and subordinate bodies. “We will not tolerate any interference that compromises the efforts of the NSF to protect the Naga homeland from this growing menace,” the Federation stated.
The press release, issued on 5th September 2024’, comes in the wake of the media conference held by the Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) where the Union claimed of having received threats after its announcement to ‘collect data’ of non-Nagas in the district which is currently not covered by the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime.
The NSF also advised any faction of entity providing “patronage or safe haven to non-locals” to cease immediately and added that it is not a time for political maneuvering but a time to unite in the face of a common threat on the Naga identity, culture, and future.
The student body said that it is alarmed by the reports of illegal immigrants “slipping into the state” in the aftermath of the crisis in Bangladesh. It reminded of the massive influxes of 1947 due to Partition and the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 that distorted the demographic landscape and leading to irreversible changes in the Northeast and said that a repetition “could permanently alter our cultural identity and sovereignty”.
The NSF iterates that this is not just another issue – this is an existential threat, it stated and asserted that it “will not stand idle as our homeland is turned into a refuge for illegal immigrants”. Stating that it is a matter of survival, the NSF called upon its Federating Units and subordinate bodies to rigorously monitor and curb any such inflow. It also urged the public Naga to remain alert, report suspicious activities, and extend their fullest cooperation in stopping this “demographic invasion”.
Further, the Federation expressed its disappointment at the Government of Nagaland for not taking any decisive action despite the NSF having submitted several representations.
“In this light, the NSF is constrained to place forth our demand that the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime across the districts of Dimapur, Chümoukedima, and Niuland must be executed within 14 days of this communique,” the NSF stated.
The student body said that it is “prepared to take up any course of action” if the State Government fails to protect the Naga people.
Read more: DNSU to collect data on non-local populace in Dimapur district
