The Citizen Amendment Act 2019 (CAA) is a law, the same was notified reflecting efficiency on the Government’s part or haste to cover the Government “blinking”. Blink because the rules have not been notified. The blink was because of unprecedented opposition on the ground across the country led by students.
The law will have to be followed once the rules are notified. However, it is not the CAA that is a worry or causing confusion, it is the announcements of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR) with no clarity and a huge trust deficit. We, in India are in an alphabet soup for sure. The current situation of citizen against citizen is disheartening. These laws attempt to modify the Constitution and such an this attempt is discriminatory, divisive and disruptive.
Any change that effects the constitution as presented by the wisdom of the founding fathers would and should necessarily involve a nationwide debate. The current changes are based on the fine print in manifesto of the BJP. What is good for the BJP is not necessarily good for India.
What was stated boldly in the manifesto and what generally drove the regime change was the promise of “Acche Din” and “Na khaunga, na khane doonga”. Both appear forgotten, or more like the Rs 15 lakh in every account, just an election gimmick? Having tasted political successes for revocation of Art 370, or the Ayodhya judgement going in their favour or no questions asked or allowed on the massive failure of demonetisation, the current groundswell of opposition led by the future i.e. students is heartening, there is hope. They are fighting for us, for the idea of India, and that definitely is not anti Indian as is being made out.
Attempting to change the Constitution is something that has touched a raw nerve and the Government should hear the cries and address the concerns. The reaction of the PM was surely unbecoming, a statement that one can recognise the trouble makers from their dress is not expected, and surely we are a much greater nation in every aspect to be comparing ourselves to a failed State.
The Assam exercise should have been enough reason to shelve any further plans to try and locate aliens. It is fraught with errors, pointless and expensive. The BJP MP in Bengal in his statement exposes the futility of this identification process. He says that the previous regime for vote bank politics allowed illegal immigrants. So if they were used as a vote bank, it means they have already voted and have the necessary papers to prove their Indianess because of corrupt politicians. The real locals who have not bothered to ensure their papers in order are the sufferers.
This brings us to the question of papers. Many rural and poor people hardly have papers eg: a birth certificate. Does this mean they are not citizens? Asking them to look for them in this day and age will open another pandora’s box where creating forged documents will become a major industry from its current cottage industry status.
We have an example in Goa, there was a revolt in Goa by people of African descent, they blocked the roads and assaulted the law enforcers, how many were deported for taking part in that agitation? Once they say they have no passport, which country will accept them back? How many are languishing in a detention centre? They are all roaming free and a few of them continue to be involved in illegal activity with political blessings. What happens to those who entered after 2014 or converts?
Instead of wasting money on this futile exercise, would it not be wiser to put the money, Rs 3000 crore approx, to build better fences and barriers to prevent further influx. Building robust softwares so if anyone who has flown in legally and is overstaying can be identified biometrically and deported to his native country. Why should the whole country be churned to catch 5% illegal settlers? Why should we abdicate our Constitutional secular position, it is akin to throwing the baby along with the bath water.
The Government would be better off making a list of unemployed educated youth. This list would be very useful. The employment exchanges could be revamped with better funding and software to make a new dynamic list, which is shareable across the country. Employers can search this database for fitting candidates across India. Once an applicant gets a job and his Aadhaar appears in the ESIC or PF portal, he will get deleted from the unemployed list automatically. Employers could search for the right candidates from across the country. It would be money well spent.
Where will we begin to write this horror story? Apparently under this CAA/NRC/NPR everyone is not Indian until proven. So who is going to certify the President of India as Indian? Or PM Modi? Ideally since the law is challenged in court by States, the Government should have waited before notifying. They did not, and legal eagles were quick to point out that citizenship being a central subject the States are bound to follow the law. If that is so how can Chief Ministers of supporting States guarantee rights to or assure classes of citizens without knowing what rules will be applicable?
We have just celebrated our 71st Republic day, may the year ahead be filled with positive actions so that India rightly takes its place as a modern day powerhouse and nothing less. Wishing everyone a happy and safe 2020, may our vision be set on ensuring India is counted among the great nations.
(The author prefers to write rather than chat in a balcao)
