Nava Thakuria
Guwahati: Appreciating the mainstream Assamese society for taking a rational views on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 despite provoking statements from some so-called intellectuals, journalists and political analysts, the Patriotic People’s Front Assam (PPFA) urges both the governments in New Delhi and Dispur to convince the people of Assam that the CAA deadline 31 December 2014 will not be extended anymore and the central government will pursue with the neighbouring countries (precisely Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan), which regularly indulge in religious persecution against minorities like Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians.
It may be mentioned that soon after the notification of CAA, many individuals and organisations in Assam pronounced ‘revolutionary statements’ against the CAA rules and urged the people to come to the streets demanding its repeal. Some have already approached the apex court of Bharat to nullify the CAA claiming that it’s unconstitutional. The forum of nationalist citizens opines that the verdict of the Supreme Court will be obeyed, but the PPFA raises a pertinent question- Can a court in India repeal an act, which was passed by both houses of Parliament and subsequently signed by the President, head of state of the Republic of India.
The PPFA, which sent a memorandum to Assam Governor supporting the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 (and faced uncivilised criticism for some anti-national elements), maintains that the government publicity machineries should divulge all the sensitive facts to the people relating to the CAA rules respecting their anxieties. Moreover, the forum appeals to the group of Guwahati-based editor-journalists, which out rightly rejected the CAB and even organised a meeting with the Governor five years back, to clarify their stand if they have accepted the CAA or bowed down to the authority and public sentiments emerged on social media in the last few days.
(Nava Thakuria is a senior Indian journalist who contributes to various media outlets including print and digital platforms of India and across the world.)
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