Nagaland marks 'North East Black Day' to protest CAA
Nagaland's student community, led by the Naga Students's Federation (NSF), just held a protest in Kohima against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
As part of the North East Students's Organisation (NESO), they called the day a symbol of standing up for indigenous rights.
NSF's Kenilo Kent said this protest is about defending their identity and rights from what they described as a discriminatory law and an existential threat to indigenous people.
Why students across Northeast are speaking out
NESO has pushed back against the CAA for years, urging that it shouldn't apply to the Northeast—even in areas with special protections.
NESO's Mutsikhoyo Yhobu said concerns haven't gone away, and in Arunachal Pradesh, student leader Nabam Gandhi warned about possible social and economic fallout.
Protesters even burned copies of the CAA to make their point.
The main worry? Many feel the law could change local cultures by letting in more migrants and leaving some communities behind.