PUT THE BILL ON BACKBURNER

Whatever the fate of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Rajya Sabha, the Government should not implement it until after talks with various protesting groups, including State governments, in the North-East. There is nothing to be gained by forcing the Bill down the gullets of the protesters across the entire northeastern region. We are in consonance with the objective of the Bill. Yet, a democratic government owes it to itself to show restraint and understanding when a large section of the people oppose the Bill. It may be because of either fear of refugees from the neighbouring countries or a baseless paranoia about illegals changing the demographic character of their land, but they must be given a patient hearing before the proposed law is implemented. It is true that the Sangh parivaar feels strongly about opening its arms to people of Indian origin suffering persecution and a second-class status in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains, etc. became a minority in these countries after the Partition and are treated very badly by the local people and the governments of the three countries. To make a distinction between them and the members of the majority in these countries is fully justified. Therefore, while ensuring that the illegal Muslims who intruded into India after 1971 are denied the citizenship rights, Hindus, Sikhs and others of Indian origin are bestowed citizenship. However laudable the objective, nonetheless it has led to widespread protests all through the North-East. One likely reason is the fear of being swamped by `foreigners’. Such is the distrust that despite assurances by various leaders of the ruling party that such people who seek protection from persecution in the neighbouring countries will be settled outside the north-east, locals in the region have refused to call off their agitation. In this background, it is advisable to postpone the implementation of the proposed law till a consensus is reached on the crucial clause in the Bill. Besides, the ruling parties in the North-East, the West Bengal Government has come out against the Bill. The Trinamool Congress might have an eye on the substantial minority vote in the State while it opposes the Bill, but the BJP risks frittering away its recent gains in North-East by pressing ahead with a controversial clause in the Bill. Nothing will be gained by pushing ahead with the proposed amendment to the citizenship clause in the face of widespread opposition all through the North-East. The voice of the people must be heeded. They need to be persuaded so that they can appreciate the real purpose of the Bill. And the Bill should be taken up for passage only after a consensus is reached among various stake-holders in the region.