Prakash Javadekar
The entire country is discussing the Citizenship Amendment Act, and those who have misunderstood it are agitating. Some political parties and opponents of Prime Minister Narendra Modi are sensing an opportunity and trying to further aggravate the situation. It therefore becomes necessary to highlight the relevant facts.
First of all, the Citizenship Amendment Bill – 2019, and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) – are two distinct subjects. The doubts being raised today are primarily aimed at conflating these two issues, thus creating an environment of fear among the minority community. This has resulted in some people resorting to agitation. A false fear has been created that a series of steps being undertaken, would end the protections available to Muslims, and they would be declared “outsiders.”
No bigger lie has ever been crafted in politics.
First of all, let us understand the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Bangladesh and Pakistan were parts of India till the time of partition. Afghanistan has been part of the larger region of this sub-continent. The basis of the creation of Pakistan and Bangladesh, was religion. A large number of Muslims went to these countries, and a large number of Hindus came to India from those countries. The refugees were resettled in India. At that time Mahatma Gandhi had said: “One India has now been split into two parts. It is our duty to provide citizenship to those that have come to India.” Similar views were echoed by Nehru ji and Sardar Patel. Millions of refugees were given citizenship at that time.
Today, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are all self-proclaimed Islamic nations. Therefore, persecution of Muslims on religious grounds in those countries is out of question. In India, the holy creed is not any religion, but the Constitution. Therefore, India has always followed the policy of giving protection to Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist and Parsi refugees.
In 2003, the Union Government led by the then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, took the first steps towards legal formalization of this policy, and declared that Hindu refugees from Pakistan and Bangladesh would be given citizenship. You would be surprised to know that many political parties who are agitating today, supported the Vajpayee Government at that time.
After this, in 2004, the UPA Government led by Dr. Manmohan Singh assumed office. They got the Bill passed in Parliament again, extending its provisions by a year. The same exercise was repeated in 2005 for another year. At that time, the Communist parties, the Trinamul Congress and several other parties who are now opposing us, were partners of the UPA Government.
The Act of 2003 speaks only of Hindu refugees from Pakistan and Bangladesh. Today, our Act speaks of Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians, Jains and Parsis who suffer persecution on religious grounds. The Citizenship Amendment Act of 2019 that the Narendra Modi Government has brought, facilitates citizenship for persecuted Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians, Jains and Parsis from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. It is hence, more comprehensive than before. All political parties should have welcomed it. But due to political considerations, some parties are taking a stand that is contradictory to what they took in 2004 and 2005. This is hypocrisy.
One question that is being asked today is: why discriminate against Muslims. The answer is: there is no discrimination against Muslims. Neither shall there be any discrimination against Muslims in future. Not even one Muslim, who is a citizen of India today, will suffer any inconvenience in this regard in future. No doubt will be cast on any Muslim citizen's patriotism. No compromise will be made on any Muslim citizen's rights.
The current issue does not concern Indian citizens at all.
Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are Islamic nations, and therefore, Muslims do not face religious persecution in these countries. In this context, no political party has answered a question raised by the Prime Minister himself: Should Muslims in these countries be provided a clear path to Indian citizenship? Is it appropriate to provide a clear window to 30 crore people for Indian citizenship? Is the Opposition ready for this?
No country in the world provides an easy route to citizenship. Each nation has its own laws, and illegal immigrants are always deported. This is a global practice, which no one raises an objection to. It is indeed unfortunate that when India applies the same principle, some people have a problem with it.
The same people have conflated the Citizenship Amendment Act and the NRC to sow confusion in the minds of people.
All prominent countries in the world have a register of citizens. India lacks one, and the NRC will help achieve it. Rajiv Gandhi first acknowledged the need for such an NRC when he signed the Assam accord in 1985. The NRC in Assam today is in accordance with the provisions of that agreement. Those whose names do not figure in that NRC have been given a chance to appeal. And since this entire exercise has happened under the directions of the Supreme Court, it would be improper to cast doubt on it.
With regard to the NRC for the rest of the country, its modalities are yet to be worked out. Misgivings being created about it at this stage are politically motivated and unfortunate.
When the Aadhaar card exercise was initiated, people expressed doubts as to how the poor will get documents to prove their identity. Ten years down the line, what do we see? Almost every Indian citizen has an Aadhaar card. Clearly, the people of India are far smarter than those who raise doubts on their ability.
As of now, only the Citizenship Amendment Act is a reality. The NRC is at the discussion stage. But let me make it clear: Not even a single personof the more than 130 crore Indian citizens will be excluded from the NRC. No one needs to fear or worry about it.
Some elements are fomenting violence. Their reality too will be exposed soon. Prime Minister Modi's historic second election victory, the Triple Talaq Bill, the peaceful resolution of the Ayodhya issue, the abrogation of Article 370 – it seems the Opposition was frustrated at all these developments. Now they sense an opportunity to muddy the waters. But India no longer gives any quarter to the politics of pessimism and negativism.
(The writer is a Union Minister)
