Citizenship Amendment Bill: Who's the victor?

"The exams are getting cancelled; I am worried that this will affect my student's academic performance," says Pratip Ganguly, an educator, working in the development sector but presently stranded in Assam. Mr Ganguly had to cancel his subsequent engagements and take shelter in the school he intended to deliver a presentation. However, even before the parliament passed the CAB - empty seats greeted him as parents held back their children from going to school, sensing the impending violence. Although the school staff has managed to take care of his stay, he is apprehensive of food getting over soon.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill, although passed by the parliament, has been greeted with dissent by various divisions of society. However, it even holds its share of supporters. Although at this point of time the opposition has joined the section of citizens, especially of Assam, in syncing their protest for the contended bill ( now an imminent Act ) - it should be noted that their reasons differ with widest of intents. However, before switching towards various scattered opinions let us quickly brief up the dispute surrounding the Citizen Amendment Bill.

The bill proposes to grant citizenship to illegal Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jains, Parsis and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.It has triggered extensive protests in northeastern states where many feel that permanent settlement of illegal immigrants will disturb the region's demography and further burden resources, decreasing employment possibilities for indigenous people. A larger section also arrogates that it will further nullify the provisions of the Assam Accord of 1985, that has fixed March 24, 1971, as the cut-off date for expulsion of all illegal immigrants irrespective of religious identities.

What does the opposition demand?

Through the opposition lens, the bill is stated to be against the tenets of the constitution. The Indian constitution, especially Articles 25 to 30, affirms India as a secular nation. Portraying Mahatma Gandhi's decisive battle against the partition, the opposition suggests that this bill dilutes the social fabric through which Gandhi knit the nation. Hence, if the ruling government had amended the bill by encompassing Muslims in the legal draft ( at present only illegal migrants who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians are included ), it is assumed that the opposition with the government would have collectively passed the bill.

What do the citizens of Assam fear?

For the citizens of Assam, the story is different. This region has seen troubled past vis-a-vis illegal immigration. Devoid of any religious discrimination or bigotry, they had a simple demand for making their area free of unlawful immigrants belonging to any religion.

What do the supporters of CAB suggest?

Sailing on what is often termed in newspapers as "Hindutva wave", the ruling government has been able to deliver bold steps and CAB is seen one among them. Whether cherished by others or not, that must remain a different analysis altogether. Their supporters suggest that the Citizen Amendment Bill rationalises "outsiders" and in no way affects the Indian citizenry. They speak of the equal rights being enjoyed by the Indian Muslims like any other non-muslim. Hence to talk about any discrimination being cast on the Muslim brethren is unfounded and is instead being used for scaremongering. Further, as the Home Minister Amit Shash pointed out in the parliament, the CAB is backed by public endorsement as the idea was stated as a part of BJP manifesto.

What does the common man sitting in the Capital think?

A casual talk with an eminent distributor of West Delhi, Harjas Singh - who is well connected within the retail markets - suggests that the common man remains unfazed with the current parliamentary events. For a state nearing legislative assembly elections, people are more busy analysing the local trends.

Among the different opinions billowing across the states, the likes of Pratip Ganguly fear one thing: the dire state of social indicators pervading across the Indian states. They believe education must be seen as a means to empower the youth lest they are exploited against nefarious agendas. Mr. Ganguly further adds that till the time primary livelihood and essential social well being isn't provided across to all citizens, in India everyone stands a loser.

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