Dimapur, 13 July (MTNews): The Nagaland Transparency, Public Rights, and Direct Action Organization (NTPRADAO) today announced that its earlier “threat to burn down the 60 MLAs’ official quarters” if the NLA supports the UCC bill is now null and void, and that the “threat is withdrawn with immediate effect.”
The NTPRADAO stated in a statement issued by its media cell that Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured a 12-member Nagaland Government delegation led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio that the Centre is considering exempting Christians and some tribal areas from the scope of the contentious Uniform Civil Code (UCC) from the purview of the 22nd Law Commissions exercise.
It stated that the delegation met with Shah and informed him of their concerns about the proposed UCC and the serious consequences it would have, particularly in the context of Nagaland, which is a Christian state and where Article 371(A) of the Constitution guarantees freedom of religious and cultural practices.
The NTPRADAO was pleased with the outcome and commended the Nagaland government delegation for achieving a “diplomatic breakthrough” in convincing Central leaders of the dangers of implementing the UCC in Nagaland.
Stating that such a positive response from the Home Minister has brought immense relief, the organization stated that in this light, it withdraws the earlier ‘threat’. However, it urged all its members to be on “earnest vigil for a UCC free environment in Nagaland” and be ready to “even lay down your lives for general public welfare.”