The Ex-Parliamentarians Association of Nagaland (Ex-PAN) has submitted a representation to the Chief Minister of Nagaland, highlighting urgent issues related to the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime and the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN). The Ex-PAN called for immediate action to safeguard the state from potential threats posed by illegal immigration and stressed the importance of a robust administrative mechanism to ensure the success of these measures.
In the representation, Ex-PAN appreciated the state government’s decision to extend the ILP to the entire state, including Dimapur. However, the association noted that the success of the ILP largely depends on the preparedness of the local administration. Citing the example of Assam, which has undertaken extensive measures to evict illegal immigrants, Ex-PAN warned that Nagaland faces a similar risk due to its porous borders. “Unless the State government is adeptly equipped to face the challenges that will be faced, especially by the local administration, the success of implementation may not be totally guaranteed,” the representation stated.
“The only defense that can protect our land and people is the strict implementation of the ILP regime without infringing on the constitutional rights of the bonafide citizens of India belonging to other parts of the country living and working in Nagaland,” Ex-PAN stated. “the State government have in place a solid foundation on which the mechanism to identify genuine citizens from the aliens is fortified, one of which is to immediately put in motion the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN),” it added.
Ex-PAN highlighted that the RIIN is a crucial mechanism to ensure the proper identification of indigenous inhabitants. The association expressed concern that although the implementation of RIIN was originally planned for October 2024, it has yet to be carried out.
“It is indeed disheartening that despite the Banuo Z. Jamir commission having submitted the final report on RIIN on 27.07.2020, the State government, for reasons best known, is still yet to officially implement RIIN despite the assurances given on numerous occasions,” it said.
The Ex-PAN emphasized that existing identification methods, such as indigenous certificates and scheduled tribe certificates, are prone to misuse and fail to provide a reliable benchmark. According to the representation, RIIN would enable authorities to accurately distinguish genuine indigenous citizens from non-indigenous residents, providing a solid foundation for effective enforcement of the ILP.
The association further recommended that the registration exercise begin with the indigenous Nagas of Nagaland or be conducted simultaneously with all citizens, cautioning against initiating the process exclusively with non-Naga tribal communities or non-Naga indigenous inhabitants. Such an approach, the representation noted, could easily be misconstrued.
The Ex-PAN urged the state government to take prompt and serious measures to implement RIIN, stating that continued delays could have negative consequences for governance and public trust. The representation concluded by stressing the importance of a strong administrative framework to protect the land and people of Nagaland while respecting the constitutional rights of all residents.
The representation was signed by Joshua Sümi, President, and Merentoshi Jamir, Secretary of Ex-PAN.
