1979: A Movement began in Assam
against the illegal migration that was leading to demographic changes and was
threatening the very socio-cultural fabric of the State.
2019: Four decades later the
State seems to be getting ready for another such long period of agitation. But
this time the issue of illegal migration also has a communal colour added to
it.
And, all this courtesy of the
Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The Bill seeks to provide citizenship to
illegal migrants belonging to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or
Christian religious communities coming from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or
Pakistan, who migrated to India till 31 December 2014.
And, what does that mean to Assam
– this means that the State which has been trying to detect and deport illegal
migrants from Bangladesh, who came after 25 March 1971, will now have to take
the burden of all those Hindu illegal migrants who came to India till 31
December 2014.
Here, we need to be clear about
one point – an illegal migrant is an illegal migrant irrespective of religion.
Whether he/she is a Muslim or a Hindu, it does not matter. If they have entered
India without valid documents, they need to be deported back.
The explanation given in favour
of the Bill is that it is trying to protect the persecuted Hindus from these
three countries. But the question is that how will one know whether they are
really persecuted or not? A Hindu from Bangladesh may have entered India
illegally to look for better economic opportunities; but, he may say that he
had faced religious persecution in that country. Where is the proof of that?
Who will verify the validity of his claim? This is an unanswered question, and,
I think, it is also an unanswerable question.
And, since these persons have
entered illegally there are no records of their date of entry. Anyone can claim
that they have entered India before 31 December 2014. No way of checking this
claim too!!
So, if the Bill is passed, any
Hindu from Bangladesh can enter India illegally and say that they have entered
India before 31 December 2014 and have been faced religious persecution. He can
then apply for citizenship and then become an Indian citizen in due course of
time. Who can stop him, when the law is on his side?
This means that we are now
looking at another demographic invasion. But, this time it will target our
language.
And it will also turn the entire NRC
update futile.
This Bill has also revitalized
the oldest insurgent group in the state – the ULFA. The outfit has grabbed the
opportunity to attract youths to its fold and during the last few months around
30 youths have joined ULFA. And this also includes software engineers as well
as management professionals. In fact, the outfit had also opened a Facebook
page and within the first 20 hours, the page had received hundreds of ‘Likes’.
Some youths even shared their mobile numbers on the page, expressing their
desire to join the outfit. The Facebook page was blocked by the authorities,
but it showed how there has been a rise of resentment among the masses against
this decision of the Central government.
In such a situation, it can be
observed that the call for ‘independence’ of Assam may rise again, if the Bill
is passed by the Parliament.
A section of youths may take up
arms once again.
In a democracy, it is essential
that the Government listen to the views of the people.
It should remember that we are a
‘Secular Democratic Republic’ and the Government is elected by the people and
they should govern as per the wish of the people.
And the people of Assam wish that
the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill be scraped and thrown away in the dustbin.
