PIL on ILP

KOHIMA, Jun 27 : Soon after the filing of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court by a BJP leader seeking withdrawal of Inner Line Permit (ILP), the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has threatened to launch a State-wide movement if the PIL is not withdrawn, reports North East Today.
The PIL was filed by a BJP leader seeking direction to prevent the extension of Inner Line Permit (ILP) to new areas of Nagaland.
Reportedly, the PIL was filed by one Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay,said to be a BJP leader. However, the party denied his affiliation to it.
The NSF, an apex students’ body of Nagaland, in a statement has alleged that the PIL was tarnishing the image of the Nagas in the State. The Nagas were projected in a poor light in the PIL, the NSF said adding the vested interest group had misled Upadhyay with the intention to smear the good image of the Nagas and fan anti-Naga passion outside Nagaland.
The NSF said it was disturbed as the petitioner had accused the Nagas of indulging in racial discrimination.
“…In terms of receiving good treatment, the Naga society, in comparison to other societies, treat everyone with respect…,” the NSF added.
The BJP’s Nagaland unit chief and Minister, Temjen Imna Along, said there was no BJP leader by the name of Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay. He said the matter was verified with the party’s Central office.
The petition has been condemned by some tribal organisations in Nagaland, including the Naga Hoho.
The Naga Hoho said that the action taken by the BJP leader clearly showed that he has some malafide intention to malign the Nagas.
Unlike other States in India, Nagaland was created out of a political agreement and Dimapur comes within the purview of 1963 Statehood.
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL), filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader had sought direction to take steps for protection of life and liberty, properties and other fundamental rights of non-Nagas living in commercial hub Dimapur due to imposition of the ILP.
Currently, except Dimapur and parts of the district, ILP is imposed all over Nagaland. It has also remained enforced in Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.