Nagaland MP Tokheho Yepthomi 'Supports' Citizenship Bill

New Delhi, December 12, 2019:

Nagaland Lok Sabha MP Tokheho Yepthomi, who belongs to the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) party, recently supported the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha.

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During the heated 12-hour discussion on the Bill in the Lower House, Yepthomi stated, "Because of Northeast insurgency problems, Government has been so kind to put to pit armed forces along the boundary. Even if Nagaland's political solution is that. Till all the Northeastern insurgency problems are settled, Nagaland is going to face problem because of the insurgency problem who are given shelter in Myanmar. Therefore, on this ground, we request the honourable Prime Minister and Home Minister to exempt the state and some few other Northeastern states have been exempted from the purview of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. For this, on behalf of the people of Nagaland I want to thank the Home Minister and Prime Minister, and I support this Bill."

The video of Yepthomi's support for the Bill is being widely circulated in social media, and has stirred up quite a storm. Yepthomi's support for the Bill has drawn concern from the Northeast, as the people dwelling in the region see this Bill as a threat to their culture, language, heritage, and identity.

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It may be mentioned here that along with the rest of the Northeastern states, protests could also be seen in Nagaland, where members of the Naga Students' Federation (NSF), have been staging protests, demanding the withdrawal of the controversial Bill. Nagaland is considered to be on the cusp of a big change, with the Naga peace talks apparently heading towards a 'final solution'.

Meanwhile, the Northeast, and especially Assam, continues to burn over the knotty issue of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to give citizenship to non-Muslims from the neighboring countries of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. However, despite the mass protests that have rocked the region over the Bill, it was passed comfortably in the Rajya Sabha last night. Guwahati city of Assam, which saw the most violent protests -- with unruly mobs clashing with the police personnel across the city -- an indefinite curfew has been imposed.

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