Nagaland supports BEFR, stir on July 21

Kohima, Jul 18: Nagaland will join Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram to demonstrate resentment against the move to scrap the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR), 1873, a constitutional Act, to protect the rights of indigenous people of the North East.

The decision was taken at a meeting with the Naga Students' Federation(NSF) and Mizo Zirlai Pawl(MZP) here yesterday, where H.

Rammawi, Minister for Agriculture, Horticulture, Law and Judicial and Parliamentary Affairs, led the Mizoram delegation.

The delegation also met Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Chief Secretary Lalhuma, and the president of the Naga Hoho.

According to a joint statement by NSF and MZP presidents, all the three states will simultaneously protest in front of their respective Raj Bhavans on July 21 to sabotage any move to scrap BEFR.

The Act is under threat following Gauhati High Court's interim order of June 12 staying deportation of non-Mizos arrested for violating the Inner Line Permit(ILP) rule under the BEFR. The court asked the Mizoram government to show cause why the Act should not be scrapped.

The Act is in force in Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh and if scrapped will affect all the three states.

The 14-member delegation from Mizoram arrived here yesterday to discuss the issue of BEFR and ILP.

The delegation has already visited Arunachal Pradesh and signed a joint statement protesting against the move to scrap BEFR.

UNI