NESO Demands, NRC & ILP a must in each Northeast State

The executive council meeting of the NESO (North East Students’ Organisation) held here today demanded that the NRC (National Register for Citizens) process must be carried out in all the north-eastern States even as it strongly opposed the CAB (Citizenship Amendment Bill). It further demanded ILP (Inner Line Permit) in each of the NE States. At the same time, the NESO demanded that steps should be taken for the recruitment of indigenous people in the government sector as well as the PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings).

The umbrella organization of NE students also opposed the reported moves of the Centre for the privatization of NRL (Numaligarh Refinery Limited) as well as disinvestment in NEEPCO (North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited). It also decided to oppose Centre’s move on ‘One country, one language’ policy as well as the draft education policy.

Addressing the media after the meeting, NESO adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya said, “We demand that the NRC process be carried out in all the north-eastern States. However, this important process must be done with modalities typically required in the respective individual States of the region. Only such a process will shield the region from foreigners.”

With respect to the recently published NRC in Assam, the NESO adviser said, “The AASU (All Assam Students’ Union) is not happy with the exercise — especially the manner in which it was conducted here. The AASU has already moved the Supreme Court, under whose monitoring the exercise is being conducted, for re-examining the NRC data. The hearing is slated for November 26.”

On the CAB, Bhattacharya stated, “We have been opposing the CAB since its very inception. The Northeast will continue to oppose it. On November 18, NESO units will carry out protest demonstrations against the CAB in front of the Governors’ Houses in the State capitals of NE. The Central government is eyeing political gains by trying to bring in the CAB. But, a foreigner is always a foreigner. We’ll never accept any distinction of foreigners on the basis of their religions. If the Centre remains adamant, it will not be spared!

“The CAB is communal, anti-indigenous, and anti-NE. It is also against the very spirit of the Constitution of India. The Northeast cannot be the dustbin of illegal foreigners!”

He added, “We strongly warn the Central government not to impose the CAB in the Northeast. Our message to the Centre: Don’t try to play with the sentiment of Northeast people!”

Referring to the need for security of the indigenous people of the Northeast, the NESO has demanded a special economic policy for the region. NESO chairman Samuel Jyrwa said, “The Centre is eyeing the rich mineral resources of the region. It is least interested in the development of the Northeast. Hence, there is a need for a movement to usher in economic development among the masses here. The NESO will take the lead in this regard by having active deliberations with noted personalities in this field. The focus is basically to tackle head-on the burgeoning unemployment problem among the youths here.”

NESO leader Jyrwa pointed out, “Every year, hundreds of students from the region move out of the NE for higher studies. So, we want that all technical, non-technical and professional courses be introduced in each State here. This will help their families as they have to bear the brunt of sending their wards for higher education outside the region.”

He added, “We further demand job reservations for the indigenous people of the region in the government sector as well as in the PSUs.” Opposing all big dams, the NESO leader said, “Scientific studies must be carried out on the adverse effects that megaprojects have on the downstream regions of the targeted rivers.” On the proposed ‘One country, one language’ policy of the Centre, Jyrwa said, “It can’t be accepted as the NE in particular and the country, in general, is multi-lingual.” With respect to the proposed draft Education policy, he said, “It’s not healthy for the student community of the Northeast.”

Thursday’s executive council meeting decided to convene NESO’s general council meeting in Tripura in January 2020.

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