Re: [IAC#RG] Fwd: OUR INDIA NEEDS TO BE ETERNALLY SECULAR

I am entirely in agreement with Mr Ramesh Bhatia. India is a secular
state and I am sure that this makes all of us proud. The unfortunate
events in the recent past related to the opposition to the CAA made me
wonder whether we are a secular state only on paper.
The first step was to try and understand what the CAA is about and
what exactly is objectionable in the CAA .
I found that the Text of Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 is easily
available on google. After reading it carefully , what I understood
is, that this Amendment has reduced the total period of residence
required for grant of Indian citizenship in case of Hindus, Sikhs
Christians, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis; who are citizens of
Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangla Desh, to five years , instead of 11
years as had been the case earlier. I did not find any mention of
Muslims anywhere in this amendment. They remain eligible for Indian
citizenship after 11 years- the same as it has been ever since 1955.
The Amendment essentially puts non Muslims on a (relatively) fast
track if they are seeking Indian citizenship, but not the Muslims.
Before this Amendment, as far I know, no Muslim from Pakistan, Bangla
Desh or Afghanistan- all Islamic countries, had made a case that 11
years is too long a period to wait for grant of Indian citizenship.
What has changed now? Are the Muslims from our neighbouring Islamic
countries now really looking for Indian citizenship on fast track? Are
Muslims becoming victims of religious persecution in our neighbouring
Islamic countries? And also, why have minorities in neighbouring
Islamic Countries been given an option to get Indian citizenship on
fast track? Could it be to give them relief from religious persecution
in Islamic countries?
Whether or not religious minorities are being persecuted as a
government policy is very difficult to establish by reports of riots,
destructions of mosques/temples/churches. Reports of such incidents
are influenced by the biases of the reporters and journalists. A more
reliable basis to form opinion would be to see whether a communities
have prospered.

In West Pakistan (Now Pakistan) Muslims population has remained at
about 96.5%. In Bangladesh (after 1971) the Muslim population has
increased from about 78% to 91%.In Afghanistan the Muslim population
has remained more than 99% over the years. Clearly Muslims are not
suffering from religious persecution in Islamic countries! Has CAA
erred by not giving them an option for Indian citizenship on fast
track?

Coming to the religious minorities in Islamic states. Are religious
minorities being persecuted in our neighbouring Islamic states? Do we
really need a proof of that ? None of our Islamic neighbours even
pretend to respect other religions or consider them to be equal to
Islam. We are all aware of the barbarous blasphemy laws in Pakistan.
Has CAA erred by giving religious minorities in Islamic Countries an
option for fast track for Indian citizenship to escape religious
persecution?
I think those opposing CAA need to specify exactly what it is that
are they objecting to in the CAA, and what they find communal, if we
are to believe that the objections are not politically motivated.

Jai Hind
Anand Gangoli






















On Thu, Mar 5, 2020 at 5:16 PM Ramesh Bhatia
<indiaresists@lists.riseup.net> wrote:
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> From: Ramesh Bhatia <bhatia.aeee@gmail.com>
> Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2020 at 13:22
> Subject: Re: [IAC#RG] OUR INDIA NEEDS TO BE ETERNALLY SECULAR
> To: <airesrodrigues1@gmail.com>
>
>
> ADEHERENCE TO SECULARISM
>
> Secularism enshrined in our constitution is very laudable and our leaders who set forth it were great. They were very forward looking and interested in making India a great country. The problem now is that our present leaders are just politicians and pygmies compared to those leaders.
>
>
> With these politicians who are only interested in winning the next election and ready to throw overboard all their principles, how do we adhere to all jewels which our constitution contains? Unfortunately, all our leaders in the last few decades from all sides of political spectrum are much the same. If Congress kept tilting towards some minorities, BJP tilts towards majoritarianism. Regional parties are no better with their respective tilts towards their vote banks like DMK/ADMK in Tamil Nadu, TMC in Bengal, Samajwadi Party in UP etc with scant regard for overall good.
>
>
> It is said that people get governance which they deserve. So do we have to bear with the government of the day because we did elect them? If not, the question before us is how we as people we can elect leaders who are true followers of constitution. While I am very optimistic I can see that it will take a long time (perhaps not in our life time) that India will see that maturity and ideals.
>
>
> A pessimistic view would be that even the oldest democracy like US has not reached that ideal which we are interested in, because even the governments there have sacrificed so many of their defence personnel and spent millions of dollars for highly controversial decisions taken by them.
>
>
> I would welcome your suggestions.
>
>
> Bhatia
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, 2 Mar 2020 at 14:07, Aires Rodrigues <indiaresists@lists.riseup.net> wrote:
>>
>> The so many precious lives and enormous property destroyed in those organized riots in Delhi is outrageous. Despite thousands of calls having been made to the Police and Fire Officials seeking help the authorities on political diktats chose to look the other way while lives were being lost and property destroyed. The worst sectarian violence for decades. Mosques, schools, homes and shops were set on fire and innocent worshippers attacked.
>>
>> What is very much disturbing is that thousands of the young children in Delhi will now have no school to go to as their Temples of learning have been ransacked and destroyed in broad day light. Let our thoughts and concern be with those young helpless kids. What is further disturbing is that India's highest shrine of Justice remained helpless in that carnage that was going on in its very neighborhood.
>>
>> There can be no room whatsoever for politics of hate and the current divisive atmosphere is so very disturbing. There can also be no space at all for intolerance. The long term implications of what is currently going on across our India is so dreadful.
>>
>> Sustainable development, and vital services like hospitals, schools, electricity, water, roads for the benefit of the people matter far more to the populace than destructive divisive politics of hate, religious or communal divide and the deliberate segregation of people based on arbitrary criteria. People are justified to treat such callous moves as a deliberate distraction from the harsh reality of the poor performance of the rapidly faltering economy.
>>
>> Our fundamental right to freedom of speech and the very sacred right to dissent in the world's largest democracy can never ever be compromised. India's very secular fabric needs to be preserved at all costs. Our great country should forever thrive on the concept of Unity in Diversity which our nation was always proud of. United we stand and Divided we fall!
>>
>> Let us all very unitedly appeal to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Home Minister Amit Shah to please lay to eternal rest that very controversial, divisive and needless CAA/NRC and NPR that critics say is an effort to tear at the fabric of India's secular identity. Let us all work together to ensure that Peace and Understanding prevails while ensuring that our great India attains its long overdue status of a Super Power. Toiling towards the much needed recovery of the country's currently extremely faltering economy should be our one and only top priority.
>>
>> Government has a fundamental duty enshrined in the Constitution to ensure that all its citizens are protected irrespective of their caste, creed, race or political affiliation and to project India as a global superpower and a bastion of peace and harmony and not a bedrock of religious tensions and persecution of minorities.
>>
>>
>> Aires Rodrigues
>>
>> Advocate High Court
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>>
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>>
>>
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>>
>>
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