DULAL CHANDRA PAUL died a broken, stateless man. The 64-year-old was in police custody since 2017, after a Foreigners’ Tribunal (FT) in Assam ruled that he was not an Indian citizen. Paul, from Alisinga village in Assam’s Sonitpur district, was lodged in a detention centre attached to the district jail. As his health deteriorated, he was shifted to Guwahati Medical College Hospital, where he died on October 13, 2019. Paul’s family refused to accept his body for 10 days, demanding that the authorities first remove the ‘Bangladeshi’ tag and declare him an Indian. They relented only after the government promised a thorough probe into the issue.
People in Assam are livid over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim that there are no detention centres in India. “If that is the case, then will the prime minister please inform us where my father was kept for two years before he died?” asked Paul’s son, Ashish. He said despite having all the required documents, Paul was declared a ‘foreigner’ and was put behind bars, even as the rest of the family continued to live as Indian citizens. “The BJP government will now give citizenship to all Bangladeshi migrants, whereas my father, an Indian, was made to die a foreigner. The government which cannot give justice to its own people is now trying to welcome outsiders and make them Indians,” said Ashish.
This story is from the January 12, 2020 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 12, 2020 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock