As the world commemorates the birth of the Prince of Peace with the pealing of bells and the twinkling of stars, the protests on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) cast a shadow over the celebrations. Lives have been claimed. People have been jailed. Others have been detained. Government property has been damaged. Curfew has been imposed. Internet services have been suspended. This is not the idea of India that we have or that the world has.
India has a history of being a tolerant nation. But today protests have erupted across the country over the CAA and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). There is a fear that this will discriminate against the certain communities. There are a million opinions on the CAA and the NRC, and even clarifications from the government have not helped.
The Ministry of Home Affairs claims that the CAA is not linked with the NRC. “The legal provisions regarding NRC have been part of the Citizenship Act, 1955 since December, 2004. Also, there are specific statutory rules of 2003 to operationalise these legal provisions. They govern the process of registration of Indian citizens and issuance of national identity cards to them,” the Home Ministry said. But why is it that this is not accepted as the truth?
The answer is simple. We are living at a time when there is distrust in the country. This has been caused by recent policies that are not inclusive. That is the reason for the people to be out on the streets protesting. This protest is not over religion. It is a movement to save India from descending into a country where divisiveness prevails. The social fabric of the nation that has been skilfully woven over centuries does not require any alteration. On the other hand, if time has rendered this social fabric feeble, then these weak patches needs to be strengthened. What needs change is the economy. That is crumbling, and the social engineering has only succeeded in taking away the focus from the economy and from bringing it back onto the rails.
Let’s not forget that we are a people that pledge that all Indians are our brothers and sisters. We are a people that pledge we are proud of the country’s rich and varied heritage. We are a people that pledge our devotion to the country and the people. We have been reciting this pledge since childhood. Yes, we are Indians first, no matter what our personal beliefs may be. And we have proved it repeatedly. We have proved that we are a secular country, that nothing can shake our foundations.
We have walked – Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains and all others – along with Mahatma Gandhi on the road to Dandi to defy colonial the salt act. We have cheered – Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains and all others – on that midnight with the Indian flag was hoisted and India kept its tryst with destiny. We have defended – Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains and all others – when our neighbours have attacked. It never mattered who we were aiming at, as we did it under the tricolour – the National flag – that unifies us in our commitment. We are fighting today – Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains and all others – to uphold the diversity of India, not to divide it in any manner whatsoever. And that India needs to be saved.
Today is also observed as Good Governance Day to commemorate the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He would have been 95 today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be unveiling a statue of Vajpayee this Christmas Day. The best tribute to this Statesman that India has proudly produced, would be a firm commitment to uphold the secular traditions of India and adhere to the Constitution.
India is a peaceful country. The violence and the protests have to stop, and they will when the government takes a step to make it happen. The Prime Minister can make this commitment today as he unveils the statue of Vajpayee. He would have the backing of the entire nation if he makes such a pledge on this day.
On that note of hope, the management and staff of Herald Group wish everyone a Merry Christmas.
