“Why do we need this bill today?” If we need to answer this, we should know background of this act. Home Minister Shri Amit Shah in his Lok Sabha Speech on 9 December 2019 clarifies that, “After independence if Congress party had not done partition on the basis of religion, then today we would have not needed this bill. Congress did partition on the basis of religion.”
If we go back to books of history, then this is not the first occasion when a government has taken the decision on citizenship. In 1971, the then Prime Minister Smt Indira Gandhi had decided to give citizenship to everyone who came from Bangladesh and also those who were cast out by Idi Amin’s Uganda in 1972.
The citizenship amendment Bill that Modi government has passed in both the houses of Parliament is being opposed by cross section of opposition parties, some members of legal fraternity and a number of “secular intellectuals”.
The Citizenship Act 1955, now Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 says :
“Provided that any person belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian community from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan, who entered into India on or before the 31st day of December, 2014 and who has been exempted by the Central Government by or under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 or from the application of the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 or any rule or order made thereunder, shall not be treated as illegal migrant for the purposes of this Act;”.
If we go into technicalities of this Act, we need to look at the constitution of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Article 2 states that in the constitution of Afghanistan that Islam is the religion of the country. There are similar provisions in the constitutions of Pakistan and Bangladesh too.
The independence of India came with tragic communal violence engulfing the life of more than a million people amidst the demand of separate Pakistan. The demand of partition was finally met by Indian Independence Act which created East and West Pakistan giving almost one third of total Indian Territory to one fifth of total Muslim population.
At the time of signing Nehru-Liaquat Pact on 8 April 1950, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee insisted that let Pakistan ensure rights of it’s minorities then we should finalize our draft of minority rights. Dr. Mookerjee resigned from Nehru cabinet on 8 April 1950 itself before this agreement was signed in Delhi opposing the historical blunder. The Nehru-Liaquat pact surrendered the fate of Hindus- Sikhs and other minorities in Pakistan in the hands of Islamic fundamentalists who targeted and tortured in every possible way.
We should also know the story of Law Ministers of India and Pakistan that they were both Dalit. The first law minister of Pakistan was Shri Jogendra Nath Mandal. The surprising thing about Shri Mandal is that he died in 1968 as a refugee in Indian state of West Bengal after resigning from the cabinet of Pakistan on 8 October 1950. His letter of resignation from the cabinet of Pakistan clearly shows the extent of atrocities and tortures did to minorities at that time.
Demography
Population by religion in Pakistan
| Muslims | Hindus | Sikhs | Christians | |
| 1941 | 79.2% | 13.5% | 5.2% | 1.5% |
| 2015 | 96.28% | 1.60% | 1.59% |
Population by religion in Bangladesh
| Muslims | Hindus | Buddhists | Christians | Others | |
| 1974 | 85.4% | 13.5% | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| 2011 | 90.4% | 8.5% | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
The above demographic statistics clearly shows as to what happened to minorities in these Islamic states. In Pakistan and Bangladesh, Hindus and Sikhs are on verge of extinction and the statistics are speaking for themselves about the great failure of Nehru-Liaquat pact by Pakistan when it comes to right of minorities.
As far as stands of political parties are concerned especially Congress, TMC and others, they have projected themselves as one of the major opponents of the bill. I think the Congress and its top leadership has forgotten that they have been on record to assure Hindu-Sikh and other minorities in neighboring country that India is under obligation to take care of them as per the pact in 1950. I want you to remember the promises and assurances made by Gandhi in a speech at prayer meeting in New Delhi on July 16, 1947. He said:
“There is the problem of those who fear, imaginary or real, will have to leave their own homes in Pakistan. If hindrances are created in their daily work or movement or if they are treated as foreigner in their own land, then they will not be able to stay there. In that case the duty of the adjoining province on this side of the border will be to accept them with both arms and extended to them all legitimate opportunities. They should be made to feel that they have not come to an alien land.”
Jawaharlal Nehru also assured in parliament on 05 Nov 1950 regarding citizenship to affected minorities and said:
There is no doubt, of course, that those displaced persons who have come to settle in India are bound to have the citizenship. If the law is inadequate in this respect, the law should be changed.
Along with this, Tarun Gogoi submitted a Memorandum demanding Citizenship for Hindus Migrants to Dr. Manmohan Singh on April 20, 2012.
The congress and other opposing parties should go back to their past days and do some research as to what their stand was on Citizenship, then there doubts will be clear.
What is happening today in the country is totally a disturbing picture for a common man. If I want to say in a crux, “It is 80% watching the rest 20%.” The unrest in the country is well planned by parties in opposition. There are more than 300 universities in India and what happened in Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University is totally unappreciated. Who were all they who raised slogans against Hindus and pelted stones from inside the campus despite the warning and request that they are for their security and don’t compel to use them force. But the intention of mob inside campus was clear to spread unrest and violence.
The propaganda are now proved false. The clips on social media clearly shows that how peaceful protestors are showing their unwell by putting bus and other public property on fire, thrashing the policemen in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Lucknow etc. The government has assured and will ensure too that those who are Indians need not to worry at all. And those who are INTRUDERS will have to say Bye Bye. That’s clear. On a lighter note if we stay in a hotel, we need to show the identity, and we are in a country. What’s the doubt then?
The opposition who are opposing for opposition sake like Mamata Didi in Bengal calling United Nations, Human Rights Commission etc. for referendum. One advice for Didi, Next election in Bengal is not centre v/s Didi. It will be Bengal v/s Muslims. For your good keep calm and think.
One of the criticisms of the Act is that what if 5 crore non- Muslims come to India? What about their food, shelter and jobs. Oh Please!!!! Stop shouting and go read the bill, now Act. It clearly says people who came before or on 31 December 2014 will only get citizenship not who will come at any time. Bharat is not Dharamshala. One thing at last.
Keep calm. This is Dharmyudh.
The Chai Wala very well knows that upto what extent water needs to be boiled.
