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CAA-The Black Spot

Hit by protest against implementation of Citizens Amendment Bill (Citizens Amendment Act, now), West Bengal is writhing. Daily life has become immobile and the role of states’ administrative machineries has become questionable. Be it Rail & Road blockade, brainless destruction of public property or setting fire to trains & busses,   all sorts of vandalism are being showcased in different pockets of the state in the name of protest and instead of taking stern actions against those, state administration watching over as mere spectators is bound to raise eyebrows. If you interpret, after reading up to this point that I’m advocating in favour of this Act and thus voicing against protesters, it will be half truth. Problem with public pandemonium is that very easily sentiments take over from logic. Unfortunately, political intolerance in our country, across all party lines has become such that criticism is interpreted as opposition. CAA itself is deplorable since it directly challenges our age-old notion of secular India. Ostensibly, this act will allow religious minorities from our neighbouring countries to give shelter and absorb as citizen of India, but there is a caveat that refugee Muslims from Afghanistan, Bangladesh & Pakistan won’t be considered eligible under the purview of the Act. Sequence of incidents over the past few months across the nation followed by this Act, there are ample ground to believe that Centre is obstinately determined to make India COMMUNAL from our ancestors concept of secular India where all religions coexisted for hundreds of years. Vigilantism in the name of religion, intolerance to listening opposition, rewriting history with tweaking facts and using media in Goebbels way, Government and its administrative machineries aren’t keeping any stones unturned to make sure inculcating suspicion and hatred towards a particular community. CAA stitched with NRC is meant to spell doom for our secular society. Thankfully; all are not lost and it is heartening to see citizens with conscience and spine till left in them are coming up in numbers to protest against this Act. Democracy has given the current government to serve the people, not to oppress the peoples by their whims; else numbers can very easily change to bring the ruling party to opposition.

Having said all this, the occurrence of vandalism, in the name of protest, from 14th of December 2019 onwards, in five districts of West Bengal, is condemnable beyond words.  It looked like there is no governance or the state Government let theses so called ‘protesters’ invigorated by abstaining from reacting fast. This kind of vandalism can only strengthen those advocating for this Act. Moreover, violence will eventually detract the attention from the main issue and political whirlwind will dilute the agenda. Relentless protest and fierce opposition do require, but in a democratic and non-violent way.

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