Editor,
With the Citizenship Amendment Bill now becoming an Act the voices in the North East are not being heard in Delhi.
Before I move on, I’d like to point out why this bill is not lawful and constitutional.
- It violates our Constitution. Citizenship must not be granted on the basis of religion. India shall lose its democratic and secularist character. This Bill must be challenged in Court.
- Being a citizen of the North East and a member of the minority community of the country, the Act shall give citizenship to the members of the “majority” community. This will endanger the demographics of many minority communities around the country. With popular trends seen today, of suppression and manipulation, such a future cannot be unforeseen.
- The functionality of this Act does not add up. This Act is said to “not apply” in the 6th Schedule areas and ILP areas but India does not have a dual citizenship system. So for example, if a person is granted Indian citizenship in the mainland, he/she may be able to settle or set up shop here in the North East (through various ways that need no explanation). Since, only 6th Schedule areas are “protected” therefore the Act will have jurisdiction in the Municipal and Cantonment areas which would make everything complicated.
- This Act may be seen as the ruling Government’s way of saying that they have the ultimate power over rights of the minorities and can any time deny them. The Government is also showing signs of authoritarianism by making small, complicated changes in shown in point no 3. This would create several complications to the application and implementation of this law.
- India’s growing population is also a major concern. We are set to be the most populous nation by the next decade and by allowing more people we just pressuring our systems. The main question is : Will we be able to provide for our new Indians? Poverty, inequality, unemployment and others are still at a high and governments have not been able to provide for already suffering citizens of the country. How will they be able to support another million or two in the country is a question we should be all asking instead of the other stated above.
If the people of the North East want to fight against this Act the leaders of the region must speak up. However, our leaders do not seem to be interested in this intense issue as no serious action is seen to be taken by them. Hence, we the people must rise against such authoritarian and dictatorial attitude of the Central government. Associations, organisations and common people alike must rally together to voice their dissent against this law. If our voices are not heard here, Delhi and Parliament is the way to go. We must take examples from the people of Hong Kong who are doing their level best to go against their authority. Even though they are intimidated by the Chinese Central Leadership, they are not afraid and continue to fight till today. We too must fight, however in a peaceful manner. We can take a cue from Gandhi’s Dandi March. He broke the British Salt Law after marching from the Sabarmati ashram to Dandi and made his own salt. We too must march to Delhi and show our dissent because according to the Central Government, bandhs and others are the day-to-day events in the North East and it doesn’t matter.
Hence, it is my appeal to the people, young and old, rich and poor, students and teachers, employees and employers, all concerned citizens, that if you want to voice your concern and show your dissent, do not be afraid because the future is in your hands. Pressure our leaders not to be diplomatic but to defend us and be fully against such draconian laws. A change in the system is necessary for us to be heard. Do not hurt. Do not use violence. Do use your voice and our strength in numbers and stronger action because Action speaks louder than words.
Yours etc.,
C H Caren,
Via email
Ongoing citizenship imbroglio
Editor,
The ongoing citizenship imbroglio brought by the Citizenship Amendment Act is a cause of worry for the residents here as there is tremendous fear among the people that the CAA will facilitate flow of illegal immigrants who are originally from Bangladesh and this will change the demography of Assam and Meghalaya as it has been in Tripura where the local population has been reduced to a minority. Now after CAA, the people of Assam and Meghalaya among other NE States fear the same. But the fact remains “You reap what you sow”. Didn’t the people of Assam overwhelmingly vote BJP in both Lok Sabha Elections as well as the Assembly elections? Similarly here in Meghalaya the people voted for NPP and other regional parties who are the open allies of BJP and that is an open secret. The manifesto of BJP was clear, so the voters of these parties who are now against this Act are themselves to blame.
Whatever it is the fact remains crystal clear that the bill is outrageous and is unconstitutional without any shadow of doubt. The people of India did not intend to make this country a theocratic republic or a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ but a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic. Article 14 was incorporated to guarantee equality before law. How can the MPs, who have taken oath to protect the Constitution, pass and support this Act which should not have been discussed even for a minute in Parliament. While the CAB is in total violation of the Assam Accord, the ministers try to console the people by assuring implementation of clause 6 of the Assam Accord. Hilarious indeed! But these are the people whom we chose whether it be MP’s from BJP or from its alliance here in the Northeast. Betrayal was obvious! The Central Government did not even bother to listen to the voice of Northeast before passing this contentious Act. The Government simply ignored the pain of the people. Hence people, including NGO’s from Assam are filing petitions in the Supreme Court to challenge the constitutionality of this Act with the hope that at this critical juncture the apex Court will listen to them and protect their fundamental rights as has been guaranteed to them in the Constitution. Now out here in Meghalaya it is to be seen how the regional parties would address the issues and problems of the local people.
Yours etc.,
Zaki Siddiqui,
Via email