Deb Mukharji: CAA-NRC: Lessons from the Assam experience
At a public tribunal held in Delhi on September 8-9, 2019, victims of the NRC process in Assam testified in gripping detail to the long-lasting and extreme hardships to which they had been exposed. Families were separated, and either incarcerated or put in detention centres, by an entirely arbitrary quasi-judicial process, leading to deprivation, deaths, and even suicides. Over the past week, what had so far been confined to expressions of deep anxiety in limited sections of print media and on websites by concerned citizens has spilled on to the streets, with injuries sustained, blood drawn, and properties damaged across India. An atmosphere of siege, fear, and anger pervades many universities and large areas of some states. This is only the initial toll of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Assam detention centres
Agenda for Social Democracy
The CAA appears to be ultra vires of the Constitution of India, specifically Articles 14, 21 and 25. While legal and constitutional issues will eventually be adjudicated upon by the Supreme Court, there are fundamental issues with regard to the CAA and the allied National Register of Citizens (NRC), affecting the very future of India, which merit urgent consideration by all citizens. First, whatever the protestations of the government, the NRC and CAA function jointly. When the results of the Assam NRC did not fulfil expectations, the government assured that those left out would be covered by the CAB (now CAA). What is now in position is the CAA, to deal with the fall out of the nationwide NRC which, it has been reiterated, is soon to be imposed.
Consequently, it is essential to recall the lessons of the Assam NRC. It is also important to recall that the NRC was suggested many decades ago with regard to the particular situation in Assam. Its pursuit by the Supreme Court in later years was Assam-specific....read more
https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/caa-nrc-lessons-from-the-assam-experience/story-b2IyUUzmyErRgMungWlKxH.html
see also
Agenda for Social Democracy
Assam detention centres
Agenda for Social Democracy
The CAA appears to be ultra vires of the Constitution of India, specifically Articles 14, 21 and 25. While legal and constitutional issues will eventually be adjudicated upon by the Supreme Court, there are fundamental issues with regard to the CAA and the allied National Register of Citizens (NRC), affecting the very future of India, which merit urgent consideration by all citizens. First, whatever the protestations of the government, the NRC and CAA function jointly. When the results of the Assam NRC did not fulfil expectations, the government assured that those left out would be covered by the CAB (now CAA). What is now in position is the CAA, to deal with the fall out of the nationwide NRC which, it has been reiterated, is soon to be imposed.
Consequently, it is essential to recall the lessons of the Assam NRC. It is also important to recall that the NRC was suggested many decades ago with regard to the particular situation in Assam. Its pursuit by the Supreme Court in later years was Assam-specific....read more
https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/caa-nrc-lessons-from-the-assam-experience/story-b2IyUUzmyErRgMungWlKxH.html
see also
Pratap
Bhanu Mehta: Discrimination, not justice: Hope this generation does a better
job of navigating the struggle
than the one that came before
Advice to the Young
Advice to the Young
Agenda for Social Democracy
