Page 32 - 15JAN2020E-1

come them with open arms.” were forcibly stopped from fleeing from had then extended it to the national
The All-India Congress Committee on Pakistan to provide lavatory cleaning level? In 2003, Clause 14 was added,
the November 25, 1947, stated that Con- facilities. He explains how the Ashraf or and NRC which was to be prepared for
gress is duty bound to provide complete the elite Muslims were frightened to lose Assam was extended to the national
security to non- Muslims of Pakistan who their privileged position at the advent level. Who did it? In 2009, Chidamabram
have crossed boundary to protect life of democracy and were responsible for saw that the law was not strong enough
and honor. But this needs to be looked in holding back minorities in Pakistan after and hence, Rule 4 was added to strength-
the wider context of persecution of mi- partition. en it. Who is responsible?”
norities as Pakistan was consolidating After the objective resolution in
itself as a rigid state moving forward on Pakistan to declare it an Islamic state aving said that, there is no coun-
the communalist path shown by Jinnah. was passed. Christian missionaries ap- try in the world which does not
proached minority dalits, convincing H have a register of its citizens, Khan
rif Mohammad Khan underlined them to convert to Christianity to escape added. Regarding the nationwide pro-
how the 1949 objective resolution persecution. Arif Mohammad stressed tests over the issue, the governor said, “A
A passed in Pakistan asserted itself how unlike India, Pakistan had no laws picture has been painted as if other than
as a Muslim state. But Pakistan’s Mus- to safeguard discrimination. Pakistan’s those listed, nobody would be given citi-
lim laws were at variance with Quran as extremist path continues to impact India zenship. The move will deal with the par-
Prophet Mohammad himself said that in Kashmir. And the nature of Pakistani ticular subject, with those who have been
there is no compulsion to anyone to fol- made to flee because of their religion.
low any law blindly. We cannot impose Each case will be decided on own mer-
homogeneity on society as diversity is its, but these people (persecuted minori-
the law of nature. Both the Congress and the ties) as a class, a commitment was made
He narrated another engaging sto- Left strongly criticise to them in 1947 and it is understandable
ry of J.D. Sethi an officer in the textile that they were victims of a demand that
department of Moradabad who migrated the Governor for they never made. They were victims of a
to India from Lahore during partition. J.D. supporting the Citizenship system that was created against the as-
Sethi re-visited Pakistan and arranged a surances given to these people.”
meeting with ParvezMussaraf. On meet- Amendment Act, with Both the Congress and the Left
ing Mussaraf he said “I have four doc- the Congress saying the strongly criticised the Governor for sup-
tors at my home- my two sons and their porting the Citizenship Amendment Act,
spouses, if partition would not have hap- Governor has ‘stooped with the Congress saying the Governor
pened then they would have been serv- had ‘stooped to the level of a BJP spokes-
ing their own people.” Arif recalled how to the level of a BJP person.’ K Muraleedharan, Vadakara MP
he pinched J.D. Sethi when he narrated spokesperson’ and son of K Karunakaran, also attacked
this encounter with Mussarafto him by the Governor ‘for not acting with the
asking, “Don’t you take us as your own dignity that the post demands.’ He had
people,” only to realize the complex ways state in fact was such that Jinnah’s law also said that if the Governor continues
in which people remain tied to their minister J.N. Mandal was disillusioned by to justify the Citizenship Amendment
native land. the government and flee to India before Act, they would be prompted to consider
JD Sethi replied, “If Muslim state had offering his resignation. boycotting him. They alleged that his
to be formed, then so be it, we just have Arif Mohammad Khan then brings views are based on distortion and con-
had to give them Jaziya tax but have attention to recent law passed by the gress never favoured citizenship on the
stayed in our native land.” “Vaisetoh parliament, deliberating whether we can basis of religion.
Raja Badalte the, 1947 meintohPraja open citizenship for all. The Sanatan Tra- Arif Mohammad Khan, an alumni
hi badaldiya”- “It was the kings who dition of India conveys that divine dwell of Aligrah Muslim University, where
used to change, but in 1947 something in all. But is it possible to welcome all? He students suffered fatal injuries during
unheard happened when the citizens questions. We can’t even accommodate protests over CAA. Arif has always been
were changed.” Arif Mohammad Khan all persecuted minorities for instance known for his free and frank stand on
stresses over these lines, and urges peo- Syrians or Yemenis. But this law, Arif contentious conflicts. Hequit the Rajiv
ple to understand with utmost sensitiv- Mohammad explains is for those per- Gandhi government opposing his stand
ity the issues of nativity and citizenship, secuted minorities to which we made a on reversal of Shahbano judgement of
learning a lesson from our own past. commitment to grant citizenship. apex court by way of enacting a fresh law
Arif Mohammad Khan then brings “Who introduced NRC? In 1985, the just to appease minorities’ community.
on the discussion to the Schedule caste (Assam) Accord was signed with the
minorities during the partition who (AsomGana Parishad) AGP leaders. Who LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

32