KOHIMA, MAY 28 (MExN): Former Finance Minister and ex-Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president K Therie has criticised the Nagaland Cabinet’s May 25 decision on the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), calling it “unsustainable” and “discriminatory.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Therie said that both ILP and RIIN involve the territory, political, and economic aspects of Nagaland and therefore no intellectual citizen should ignore the gravity of its impact.
He pointed out that ILP currently applies to Indian citizens and foreigners in four Northeastern states — Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram — and that Nagas themselves require ILP to enter these states. He claimed that while the Nagaland government had historically applied ILP with leniency due to the demand for integration, this position no longer holds weight in the post-agreement scenario.
Therie stated that with the negotiating parties having dropped demands for sovereignty and integration after more than 100 rounds of talks, there is no longer a basis to delay implementation of screening measures like ILP and RIIN.
Referring to the Centre’s stance, he said the Union Home Minister had made it clear that the “talks had concluded.”
“There is no more common issue to fight or talk about… and no reason to burden the Nagaland public anymore. Therefore, Nagaland should be screened with ILP and RIIN effectively,” he asserted.
Therie also criticised the Cabinet’s decision to pause the issuance of Indigenous Inhabitant Certificates (IICs) to citizens of four minority communities — Kuki, Kachari, Garo, and Mikir — calling it a violation of their fundamental rights and an abuse of power.
Expressing support for RIIN as a mechanism to curb infiltration and illegal migration, Therie accused the state government of yielding to pressure from the NSCN (IM) at the cost of unrepresented minority groups. He noted that these four tribes have lacked representation in the State Assembly for over 40 years.
“The NLA cannot use them as guinea pigs,” he said, adding that the Cabinet should uphold justice and equality without prejudice, as mandated by their constitutional oath.
Therie called on Nagaland’s political leaders and national workers to adapt to the present situation and stop enabling infiltration and illegal migration. He urged indigenous Nagas, particularly the youth, to unite in strengthening the state to safeguard its territory and future.
