The Winter of Discontent

Surely the founding fathers of our Constitution would not have dreamt of the many meanings that the innocuous phrase ‘Citizen of India’ now seems to have.

- Kaustubh Deka

One of the oldest democracies in the world, the United States of America, has just elected a leader who promises to build walls, both real and metaphorical, to keep out immigrants, while the largest democracy India has become embroiled in a debate over the issue of ‘welcoming’ some immigrants, albeit selectively. At the centre of the controversy is the newly introduced Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which if passed by Parliament will be the sixth amendment till date to the Citizenship Act of India, 1955, which sets out the parameters of the citizenship status for the Republic of India.

The Bill that is awaiting the consideration of the Joint Selection Committee of Parliament at the moment will grant, if passed, Indian citizenship to migrant non-Muslim minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. In Assam, different political parties, intellectuals and student and youth bodies have taken to the streets protesting against the Bill, which they fear will pave the way for the reduction of the indigenous communities of Assam into a minority in their own State. However, some Assam based organisations claiming to represent the community of Displaced Bengali Hindus (DBH) have welcomed the proposed amendments. They point out that it would be impossible for Hindu Bangladeshis to return to Bangladesh due to religious persecution.

Implications of the Proposed Amendment