Satwant Singh Rissam
India these days is witnessing the largest students protest after some decades in the country. The students are protesting against the new citizenship law in India. The demand of protesters is that India shouldn’t be converted into a democracy where discrimination and a sense of fear prevail. Further, it is demanded that anyone shouldn’t be excluded on the basis of their identity. Every movement has a shape and in this case the students who feel insecure under the political leaders are on roads to create a moral and institutional regeneration among the political class of the country. These students appear to be fed up with poisonous public discourse which is sowing hatred in minds of the people.
Weak institutions and leaders of the country with divisive passions are among some challenges the country is facing right now. In the past, during emergency period also the country faced challenges. During that time, the fight during was for the restoration of democracy but these days there are two fights. Firstly, for democratic rights and secondly against the rising communalism supported by the political circles of our country. The citizenship amendment act (CAA) has divided the society and given a signal that minorities in the country are second class citizens. From CAA to common civil code to population control everything will pose moral challenge in our society. The minority and majority communities will be put to competition in the country as this all is being pushed within the political circles of India.
These all issues including the announcement of updating the national population register (NPR) are furthering the fight over CAA. There are also speculations that new NPR form will have some new questions which could later become a database for the national register of citizens (NRC). This all reflects more division in the Indian society in the upcoming years. This situation we are witnessing is just on roads and soon will make way in our families and even friend circles. The streets would not witness this all if the political forces haven’t let us down on all basic constitutional principles. We shouldn’t forget that prejudice when nurtured in political circles always sends a significant message and many social movements could join against it. Then there comes risks which are inherent in any social movement. Although every country has the power to suppress any such movement but when situation implodes under such movements then all participants are tagged as anti nationals. And use of arbitrary power increases which we are witnessing in protests against CAA.
Let’s not forget that India gained its Independence through Satyagraha and violence has never helped in any cause which is pro-country. Even though there is fear of being discriminated in future yet we need to exercise control and this has to be conveyed to protesting masses in shape of some sound reassurance from government. But the Prime Minister made public speech blaming the protesters amid the number of brutal measures against them. The building of detention centers in Assam cannot be ignored in this ongoing debate. The contrary statements from Prime Minister and Home Minister on CAA, NRC reflects that something is surely fishy. Even the President of India in his address to the Parliament this year has mentioned about NRC. We have witnessed earlier also how Aadhar was allowed for voluntarily use and later was made mandatory for many things. What is happening is not good for the democracy and BJP shouldn’t do everything in the name of mandate. All Indians even after the elections have a right to decide how they would like to live in this country.
The Constitution should always remain the most important document for the country and because of this fact the minorities are openly being supported by majority community in this fight. The fight is about the soul of India – the Constitution. The BJP needs to answer why such deep fissures have come out in our social system. Introspection is needed and during this ongoing unrest it is also important to focus on the job of opposition parties, as they have big role in several states. All governments led by opposition parties have to ensure that nothing happens overtly or covertly against the country because large numbers of Indians have shown that they continue to be inspired by the constitution.
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