Why Goans Must Protest Against the CAA

Attending a civil society sponsored peaceful protest organised by educationist Arvind Bhatikar against the Citizen Amendment Act 2019 (CAA) at Panjim’s Azad Maidan on December 18, 2019, one of the very young protesters standing nearby, asked me: “Will anything come of this? Are Modi-Shah too powerful and will they do whatever they want without listening to the voices of the people?” I did not have an adequate answer, that evening. 

A month later, young people don’t feel powerless. Powerful dissenting voices across the nation—particularly those of young people—have united to protest against the CAA which is discriminatory, divisive, and disruptive. The CAA applies to three of our eight neighbours—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan—and arbitrarily chooses six religious communities—Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Christian, and Parsi refugees who entered into India on or before the 31st day of December, 2014. The CAA excludes other refugees — Ahmadis from Pakistan, Hindu and Christian Tamils from Sri Lanka, Buddhists from Tibet, and Rohingyas from Myanmar. 

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Govt asking for clarifications. This Court will decide on the validity of the CAA, judge whether the CAA violates the right to be treated equally under our constitution, and whether it discriminates on the basis of religion. Let the SC decide.

On the face of it, the CAA looks like a mild amendment. Combine it with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and it has ominous overtones. The Assam NRC exercise is a case in point where 1.9 million people were unable to provide  documentation that the Government required. 

On Liberation Day last month, CM Pramod Sawant assured Goans that it was his “duty to protect the interests of every Goan… Hindu, Muslim or Christian.” Then why should we worry? Because the Modi Government has a brutal manner of protecting the interests of people. The CAA-NRC can be abused in Goa which has fostered peaceful and harmonious existence between people of different faiths. Tourists often visit Goa because of the friendliness of people here and the pluralistic fabric of this State that makes people feel at ease with one another.

When the Modi Government says that PAN, Aadhaar, or Passport documents are not sufficient to prove citizenship, we should worry. When the PM says that you know protesters by “their clothes,” we should worry. When the BJP leader Dilip Ghosh says “Our governments in UP, Assam and Karnataka have shot these people like dogs," we should worry. When fundamentalists troll Deepika Padukone and demand boycotting her film, because she took a stand, we should worry.

To that young protester standing next to me in the Azad Maidan last month, I would say, “Yes, your protest has the Government worried.” The people in Goa cannot keep silent. We must protest against the CAA and protect our constitution. For our good and for the good of our sisters and brothers.