A report by the Times of India from December 2019 brings to light an interesting and illustrative story of Divayaram. A former Hindu MP of Pakistan, Divayaram and his family settled in Ratangarh village of Fatehabad district, Haryana. Few people know that Divayaram was once a Member of Parliament in Pakistan. When he was an MP, some dominant people kidnapped a girl of his family. Despite being in power, he could not do anything and frustrated with that he resigned from his post in a few days. Eventually, he fled towards India with his family members in the year 2000 to flee the persecution.
Providing Relief to the Historically Persecuted
The extent of persecution even historically can be gauged by just one instance. Jogendranath Mandal was a leader of scheduled castes in Bengal. He played an instrumental role in the formation of Pakistan. But within a couple of years of its formation, even while he was Cabinet Minister, he resigned his post and wrote to his Prime Minister about atrocities committed against minorities. He eventually returned to India disappointed. If this is what happened to a Minister just because he was a minority, one can imagine what it would be for a helpless common minority.
The Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 (CAA) gives respite to such people who have fled religious persecution.
CAA Upholds India’s Civilisational and Secular Ethos
The Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 essentially grants citizenship to the persecuted religious minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who entered India before the cut-off date of 31 December 2014.
These minorities have seen a massive reduction in their population percentage over the past seven decades post India’s partition in 1947. Large numbers of the religious minorities of these regions belong to lower socio-economic strata, and they are treated as second class subjects. Additionally, the religious minorities face severe persecution – there are non-stop reports of these minorities being subjected to kidnappings, forcible conversions and marriages, terror attacks, wrongful accusations of blasphemy and murders. Further, most of their religious places of worship have been attacked, as seen even recently.
Since these minorities are, in a way, victims of partition, India has a moral obligation towards these refugees to provide them refuge in their darkest times. The underlying principle of the CAA is an acknowledgement of the fact that refugees persecuted on the grounds of religion need accommodation. Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel and the Congress party at the time of independence and partition had given a commitment to providing refuge to these minorities if persecuted. An agreement was also signed with the Government of Pakistan in 1950 to ensure that religious minorities in Pakistan can live a secure life. However, since then Pakistan failed to live up to the letter and spirit of the commitment, it was incumbent on India to provide shelter to the refugees that have been entering India over time.
Inclusive and Humanitarian
CAA is essentially inclusive in nature since it provides relief to the persecuted minorities from India’s neighbourhood. It does not take away anyone’s citizenship – there are no provisions whatsoever in the Amendment to that effect. It only creates a faster processing track for religiously persecuted minorities to obtain Indian citizenship. No Indian citizen is affected in any way by the CAA.
With the Amendment in place, the Government of India can now help these people get a chance at a dignified life in India. Lack of Indian citizenship only worsened the situation of these refugees in India. Hence for decades they have been living in sub-human conditions in India, without benefits that accrue from citizenship. Also, lack of relevant identity documents kept them away from securing employment, forcing them to do odd jobs.
In conclusion, the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 is a humanitarian move on the part of the Government of India, sheltering the persecuted religious minorities of the neighboring countries. This Amendment does not discriminate against anyone, and only fulfils the commitment made by luminaries of the Indian freedom struggle and also continues the culture of compassion that India has always been known for.
