The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (2019) has recently been approved by the Union Cabinet. Based on media reports and an erstwhile lapsed version of the bill, it appears that the proposed law will grant Indian citizenship to any Hindu, Christian, Jain, Sikh, Parsi, and Buddhist refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who arrived before December 31, 2014. It will not apply to the tribal areas of the northeast, in Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
While the Citizenship Amendment Bill’s stated purpose is to offer refuge to persecuted minorities from neighbouring countries, it only applies to a small, very specific group of minorities and countries. It conveniently omits Ahmadis from Pakistan, Rohingyas from Myanmar, and Tamils from Sri Lanka, proving that the bill is not about protecting refugees, but instead is intended simply to advance the agenda of Hindutva. In turn, the law will inflame passions, and sharpen communal divisions all over the country, particularly in Bengal, Assam, and other states of the North East.
The Home Minister, Amit Shah, has stated in clear terms the intention of the government to “kick out […] every intruder except Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs." The exclusion of Muslims from his speech, and from this Bill is aimed is to further divide the country along communal lines, and target a vulnerable minority community.
The final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam categorised over 19 lakh people as “illegal immigrants,” the majority of whom have lived in Assam for decades. Sources suggest that more than 14 lakh people on the list are Hindu whereas5 lakh are Muslim. As soon as these figures came in, BJP leaders demanded that the NRC be conducted once more, as there were Hindus than Muslims on the list. They then tried to divide people throughout Bengal and the North East by promising citizenship to only the Hindus on the list.
Not only is this amendment discriminatory, it is also poorly planned. In Assam, which has a population of 3.5 crores, the government of India has spent 1,600 crore rupees in order to implement the NRC. We must consider the financial cost of implementing such a system throughout the country.
The Union Government plans to replicate the NRC in all Indian states to drive out the so-called infiltrators and foreign migrants. If the proposed amendments to the Citizenship Act take effect, it would mean that these undocumented migrants will be granted Indian citizenship as long as they are not Muslims.
Additionally, there has been little to no communication with neighbouring countries on the practical aspects of execution, especially deportation of migrants. When the Indian Prime Minister met Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the UN General Assembly, he assured her that the NRC process happening in India would not affect Bangladesh. Within India, the government has stated that illegal immigrants will be kicked out of the country.
The Constitution of India is founded on the values of secular democracy providing equality of rights across religious groups. The proposed amendments to the citizenship law are an affront to the Constitution. On the face of it, these amendments violate Article 14, which guarantees equality under the law, and Article 15, which prohibits the state to discriminate on religious lines.
Both of these articles are part of the Basic Structure of Indian Constitution which cannot be amended under any circumstances by the Parliament, as declared by the Supreme Court of India in the Keshavnanda Bharati (1973) judgement.
If this law comes into effect, it will overturn one of India’s most important values, and determine citizenship on the basis of religion. This would damage the very fabric of this country, and opposing this law is imperative for all Indians. Not only will this law contradict the founding values of the Indian republic, but it will also change the character of this nation forever. By converting India into a homeland of Hindus, it mimics a dangerous idea of ethnic citizenship which has always provoked disharmony and violence across the world, including in the neighbouring country of Pakistan.
It is the responsibility of every Indian citizen who values equality and justice to oppose this reprehensible proposal to change the character of Indian citizenship. In support of various protests taking place across India and outside, we, the concerned residents of Gujarat unequivocally opposed and condemn this proposed law.
Signed,
1. Dev Desai, Social Activist, Anhad
2. Maansi Shah, CEPT University
3. Sharik Laliwala, Independent Researcher
4. Prasanthi P
5. Admiral Ramdas
6. Lalita Ramdas
7. Sheba George, Activist
8. Bhargav Oza, Independent Researcher
9. Cedric Prakash, Prakash Ahmedabad
10. Mridul Gupta, Concerned Citizen
11. Mohd Saifuddin, Indian Citizen
12. Amita, GMM
13. Maya, Concerned Citizen
14. Akhila Vasan, Karnataka Janaarogya Chaluvali
15. Hiren Gandhi, Darshan
16. Anjali N., Independent Researcher17. Kamal, Concerned Citizen
18. Venkat Srinivasan, Concerned Citizen
19. Jasvir Singh Arora, Individual
20. Sameer Yadav, Anant National University
21. Munawar, Student
22. Sudhir Chopra, Concerned Citizen
23. Imran, Concerned Citizen
24. Nirjhari Sinha, Jan Sangharsh Manch
25. Persis Ginwalla
26. Aziz Minat, Concerned Citizen27. Johanna Lokhande, Concerned Citizen
28. Shamshad Pathan, Alp Sankhyak Adhikar Manch
29. Riaz Motiwala, Concerned Citizen
30. Hemantkumar Shah, HK Arts College Ahmedabad
31. Mohammad Marfatiya, SVMBA
32. Manjusha, Lawyer
33. Niket Patel, Concerned Citizen
34. Zohran Jilani, Jamia Millia Islamia
35. Azhar, Activist
36. Rakhi Sehgal, Labour Researcher & activist
37. Saif Ahmad Beg, Concerned Citizen
38. Anil Hebbar, Bharat Jodo Abhiyan
39. Chirag, Concerned Citizen
40. Hanif Lakdawala, Activist
41. Bhavik Raja, SUCI(C)
42. Jignaba Rana, Adulation
43. Mahendra Rathod, All India D.S.O.
44. Rama Ponnaiah, DMK
45. Surabhi, Concerned Citizen
46. Vaseef Hussain, Concerned Citizen
47. Oindrila Hazarika, Concerned Citizen
48. Naushad Ahmad, Concerned Citizen
49. Govind Desai, Concerned Citizen
50. Smita Pandya, Concerned Citizen
51. Salim Hafezi, International Rated Chess Player
52. C. A. Jakate, Concerned Citizen
53. Niyati, Concerned Citizen
54. F. C. Jakate, Concerned Citizen
55. Kavisha, Concerned Citizen
56. Sabina Solomon, Concerned Citizen
57. Florence D'Souza, Concerned Citizen
58. Mohd Abuzar, Anhad
59. Hiren Gandhi, Concerned Citizen
60. Saroop Dhruv, Concerned Citizen
61. K. Srinivas, Concerned Citizen
62. Nilesh Kumar D Parmar, Concerned Citizen
63. Akhilesh Dave, Indian Radical Humanist Association
64. Ghanshyam Shah, Independent Researcher
65. Waqar Qazi, Social Activist
66. Jatin, Concerned Citizen
67. Mukesh Patel Junagadh, Concerned Citizen
68. Krishan Upadhyay, Concerned Citizen
69. আুল হািমদ পৰামািনক, Concerned Citizen
70. Kaushik Parmar, Social Worker.
71. Tanmay Timir, Concerned Citizen
72. Ena, Dasam
73. Rehan, Anhad
74. Kawish Reza, SFI
75. Mahesh Kumar, Consulting Journalist
76. Thahir Ali, Concerned Citizen
77. Salman, Concerned Citizen
78. Maansi Shah, IIT Roorkee
79. Shabnam Hashmi, Anhad
80. Abdul Moeed, Indian and Muslim
81. Sehba, AIDWA
82. Ranu Jain, Academician
83. Rafi Malek, Concerned Citizen
84. Zafar Ullah, Publisher
85. Nazneen Shaikh, Concerned Citizen
86. Maimoona Mollah, AIDWA and CPI (M)
87. Lasin, Concerned Citizen
88. Farah, Concerned Citizen
89. Jay Patel, Student at MSU, Baroda
90. Abhjnay Pratap, Concerned Citizen
91. Rachana Mudraboyina, Transgender Rights Activist
92. Faraz Ahmed, Concerned Citizen
93. Mohd Noman Shamsi, Concerned Citizen
94. Radhika Radhakrishnan, Researcher
95. Sagar Agrawal, Concerned Citizen
96. Shradha, Concerned Citizen
97. Atif Waqar, Concerned Citizen
98. Rachelle C, IIT Gandhinagar
99. Keshav Jee, Student
100. Daniyal Ashraf, Concerned Citizen
101. Rakshit, Student
102. Nitin, Activist
103. Prerna Khobragade, Concerned Citizen
104. Soumen, Artist
105. Pallavi Krishnappa, Researcher
106. Haby Koshy Mathew, PhD student IITGN
107. Jignesh Sengal, Concerned Citizen
108. Ruchit Sengupta, Alumni of IIIT Bangalore
109. Umang Kumar, Concerned Citizen
110. Shruti Lokre, Lawyer
111. Priyanka Sachar, Concerned Citizen
112. Mohd Masir Siddique, Concerned Citizen
113. Sharonee Dasgupta, Delhi University
114. Priyadarshi Chowdhury, Concerned Citizen
115. Md Moeez, Concerned Citizen
116. Saravanan V, MPhil scholar, JNU
117. Jyoti, JNU
118. Abid Faheem, Research Scholar (JNU)
119. Nasreen Ebrahim , United Citizen Forum
120. Prashanth, IITGN
121. Raja Rabbi Hussain, Delhi Soliarity Group
122. Poonam Agarwal, Concerned Citizen
123. Yousuf Abbas, National Power Training Institute
124. Aqib Khan, Concerned Citizen
125. Kripa Daniel, Delhi Solidarity Group
126. Kavita, Aidwa
127. Himadri, JNU
128. Shobhana Warrier, Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi
129. Ishwor, Dsg
130. Shivani, Concerned Citizen
131. Syed Iliyas Ahmed, Concerned Citizen
132. Prasad Chacko, Social Worker, Ahmedabad
133. J Emerald, Writer
134. Ateeque Ahmed, Concerned Citizen
135. Fozia Rahman, Lawyer
136. Shagun Sharma, Concerned Citizen
137. Irshad Ahmad, Concerned Citizen
138. Prof. Hemant Joshi, Retired Professor
139. Rohan Mishra, Concerned Citizen
140. Leena Dabiru, Social Worker
141. Faishal Ekbal, Concerned Citizen
142. Satorupa, Concerned Citizen
143. Sarfaraz Ahmed Siddiqui, Concerned Citizen
144. Ajin K Thomas, Researcher, Ahmedabad
145. Robert John, Indian Citizen
146. Prita Jha, Peace and Equality Cell
147. Saiyed Azhar, Architect
148. Sadiah, Muslim
149. Radhika Kapur, Concerned Citizen
150. Sagar Parekh, SVNIT, Surat
151. Vinoo Hora, NFIW
152. Ganesh Devi, Rashtra Seva Dal & Dakhinayan
153. Abhilash, Concerned Citizen
154. Shivaji K Panikkar, Retired professor
155. Runu, Independent Activist
156. Sukhalata Sen, Jawaharlal Nehru University
157. Uttam Parmar, Concerned Citizen
158. Aakhya, Student
159. Dwarika Nath Rath, Movement for Secular Democracy (MSD)
160. Darshak D Solanki, Concerned Citizen
161. ABI KS, Student, Chandigarh University
162. Sushanth N S, Marketer
163. Neha Patel, Concerned Citizen
164. Kehar Singh, Concerned Citizen
165. Khairunnisha, Concerned Citizen
166. Noor Zaheer, NFIW
167. Mohammad Sharif Malek, Concerned Citizen
168. Varadharajan Ramakrishnan, Concerned Citizen
169. Rachana, Concerned Citizen
170. Nagarajan, Concerned Citizen
171. Reggie Fernandes, Indian residing abroad
172. Gopi Menon, Concerned Citizen
173. Atul Mhase, Concerned Citizen
174. N Ramakrishnan, Retired bank officer
175. Swati Goswami, Concerned Citizen
176. R Nagarajan, IT professional
177. R Srinivasan, Press
178. Rekha Srinivasan, Music Teacher
179. Selvi Nagarajan, Housewife
180. Shobhana Narayanan, Business woman
181. Dr. Rangnekar, Researcher
182. Yash Rangnekar, IT Professional
183. Parnisha Sarkar, Graduate student, University of Toronto
184. Anil Chandra, Concerned Citizen
185. Hozefa Ujjaini, Buniyaad
186. Samina Diwan, Parwaaz
187. Nisha, CSO
188. Vatya, TISS
189. Hasina Khan, Citizen of India
190. Simona, PhD Scholar
191. Prashanti, IIT Gandhinagar
192. Arti Naahar, Concerned Citizen
193. Sahil, Student
194. Amaani Vaniya, Concerned Citizen
195. Ananya Iyer, Student
196. Rachelle C., IIT Gandhinagar
197. Shweta Damle, Platform for Social Justice
198. Arijita, NGO
199. Mugdha Cheemakurthy, TISS
200. Yasmeen Qureshi, Aawaaz-e-Niswaan
201. Meghna Mehra, Founder, All India Queer Association
202. Yasmeen Aga, Aawaaz-e-Niswaan
203. Amritha Mather, Student
204. Junaid, Student
205. Anis Utpal, Concerned Citizen
206. Nazreen, Habitat and Livelihood Welfare Association
207. Avisikta, Social Development Organisation
208. Farheen Salman, Concerned Citizen
209. Arshad P., Architect
210. Mangal, Concerned Citizen
211. Saheli, Women's Resource Center, Autonomous Women's Group
212. Nitish Mohan, SFI
213. Sabika Abbas, Concerned Citizen
214. M R Suhaib, All India Progressive Writers' Association
215. Alankrita Anand, Ashoka University
216. Mirza SoyebBeg YashinBeg, Concerned Citizen
217. Khasim, Indian Citizen
218. Ashraf Mansuri, Concerned Citizen
219. Ansari Kausar, Concerned Citizen
220. Sadath, Concerned Citizen
221. Naveed A., Concerned Citizen
222. Afreen Khan, Advocate, High Court of Bombay
223. Gulrez, Concerned Citizen
224. Jeff, Concerned Citizen
225. Devidas Tuljapurkar, AIBEA
226. Irshad Ahmad, Concerned Citizen
227. Gulam Mustafa, Concerned Citizen
228. Khurram Sajjad, Concerned Citizen
229. Rina Kamath, Concerned Citizen
230. Farhan Shahid, Concerned Citizen
231. Firoz, Concerned Citizen
232. Mohammad Aqeel Ahmad, Concerned Citizen
