An Open Letter to the Citizens of India

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Vol. 74 No. 52 An Open Letter to the Citizens of India January 19, 2020 Constitutional Conduct Group A Million Mutinies Tied Together by Humanity and Hope Prem Panicker A group of 106 former senior to be resolutely opposed. CAA–NRC Protests: Why Gandhi bureaucrats with the government • The NPR 2020 has nothing Would H ave Been Proud of Today’s of India have organised themselves to do with the Census to be Youth as the Constitutional Conduct conducted in 2021. Unlike the Syed Ubaidur Rahman Group. Most of them were IAS, 2010 version of the National Shaheen Bagh: Thousands Say in One Voice—Nothing Less Than CAA and include IPS, IRS, IFS officials. Population Register, the new Roll-Back They include top former Secretaries, version asks not only for the Tarique Anwar DGPs and even RAW officials. The names of the parents of the Shaheen Bagh-Inspired Protests signatories include former National resident, but also seeks to also Spread Across the Country Abdul Alim Jafri, Chandni Doulatramani Security Advisor Shivshankar record their dates and places of and Ruchika Goswamy Menon; former Foreign Secretary birth. A person who is not able Pan-India NRC May Lead to Initial and former Chairman, National to furnish these details for his/ Exclusion of 10 Crore Applicants Security Advisory Board, Shyam her parents or, for that matter, Amitava Bandyopadhyay Saran, IFS (Retd.); former Director for himself/herself, could well Large-Scale Bangladeshi Migration to Assam a Myth? General of Police, Govt. of Gujarat, be classified a ‘doubtful citizen’. Debasish Bhattacharjee P.G.J. Nampoothiri, IPS (Retd.); • Census statistics over the past Economy in Shambles, But PM former Special Secretary, Cabinet seven decades do not show Asking Culprits for Solution! Secretariat, Anand Arni, R&AW any significant demographic Subodh Varma (Retd.); former Director General shift in India’s population, and Editor : G. G. Parikh of Police (Jails), Govt. of Punjab, therefore the identification of Mohinderpal Aulakh, IPS (Retd.); illegal migrants seems to be Associate Editor : Neeraj Jain former IAS Harsh Mander, IAS unnecessary, as proposed under Managing Editor : Guddi (retd.), and former member of India’s the nationwide NRC. Editorial Board : National Advisory Council; and • The expenditure on the former Delhi Lieutenant Governor proposed NPR exercise seems B. Vivekanandan, Qurban Ali, Najeeb Jung, among others. unreasonable now that most Anil Nauriya, Sonal Shah, Declaring themselves as committed Indian citizens are already Amarendra Dhaneshwar, to the Constitution of India, they covered by the Aadhaar scheme. Sandeep Pandey highlight the following points in an • The bureaucracy at a fairly D-15, Ganesh Prasad, open letter to the Citizens of India junior level has been given vast Naushir Bharucha Marg, (the letter is reproduced in full powers to include or exclude Mumbai - 400 007. below): a person from the NRC. This • Though the government has tried gives scope for these powers to Email : [email protected] to separate the CAA, NRC and be employed in an arbitrary and Website:www.janataweekly.org NPR, they are linked and need discriminatory manner, subject 2 JANATA, January 19, 2020

to local pressures and to meet Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 provide for verification of the details specific political objectives. (“CAA”). Your fears have been in the Population Register by the • There is also large scope for compounded by the contradictory Local Registrar (normally a taluka or corruption in this exercise. and confusing statements made by town functionary) who will separate • This exercise is very difficult to spokespersons of the Government of out cases of doubtful citizenship conduct in a country where the India on the implementation of the and conduct further enquiries. After maintenance of birth records is National Register of Indian Citizens carrying out enquiries in respect of poor. (“NRIC”). Though the government residents whose citizenship status • The NRC exercise conducted now seeks to delink the National is suspect, the Local Registrar in Assam last year left out 19 Population Register (“NPR”) from will prepare a draft Local Register lakh people, or 6% of Assam’s the NRIC, we, the Constitutional of Indian Citizens, which would population. It is ludicrous that Conduct Group, comprising former exclude those not able to establish, the Assam government, which civil servants from the All-India and through documentary proof, their is ruled by the BJP, has rejected Central Services committed to the claim to be citizens of India. its own NRC data. Constitution of India, consider it It is at this stage that the • The provisions of the CAA, our duty to inform you that the three experience of the citizens of Assam coupled with rather aggressive issues are linked, acquaint you with can cause apprehensions in the statements over the past few the facts regarding the NPR, NRIC minds of those who are required to years from the highest levels and the CAA and emphasise why establish their citizenship, whether of this government, rightly these measures need to be resolutely or not they profess any religion. cause deep unease in India’s opposed. For easy comprehension, The NPR 2020, unlike the NPR Muslim community. In states we are listing the issues pointwise: 2010, asks not only for the names where the BJP has control over of the parents of the resident, but the local police, the Muslim There is no need for the NPR and also seeks to also record their dates community has had to face the NRIC and places of birth. A person who is brunt of police action. Therefore, Both the NPR and NRIC not able to furnish these details for concerns arise that the NRC and exercises flow out of the amendments his/her parents or, for that matter, NPR could be used for selective in 2003 to the Citizenship Act, 1955 for himself/herself, could well be targeting of communities and (“1955 Act”) and the Citizenship classified a “doubtful citizen”. individuals. (Registration of Citizens and Issue of The 2003 amendments to the • The experience with Foreigners’ National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003 1955 Act (vide Sections 3 (b), 3 Tribunals in Assam has been (“2003 Rules”) framed by the then (c) and 14A) and the consequent traumatic for those at the NDA government in 2003. The NPR introduction of the 2003 Rules seem receiving end. The government has nothing to do with the Census of to indicate an undue obsession about must withdraw the Foreigners India, which is conducted every ten illegal migrants, without any factual (Tribunals) Amendment Order, years and is next due in 2021. While basis. We fail to understand the need 2019, which gives powers to any the Census collects information for a nationwide identification of district magistrate of India to set about all residents of India without “illegal migrants”, which is what up Foreigners’ Tribunals and is listing their names, the NPR is a the NRIC in effect amounts to, when the precursor to a widespread list of names of all those who have census statistics over the past seven exercise to identify ‘illegal lived in India for over six months, decades do not show any major migrants’. regardless of their nationality. A demographic shifts, except in certain Population Register will contain pockets in some areas of North- FULL TEXT OF THE LETTER the list of persons usually residing Eastern and Eastern India adjoining within a specified local area (village/ our neighbouring countries. Dear Fellow Citizens of India, town/ward/demarcated area). We are apprehensive that the Over the past few weeks, many The NRIC will effectively be a vast powers to include or exclude of you have been understandably subset of the Population Registers for a person from the Local Register agitated over the enactment of the the entire country. The 2003 Rules of Indian Citizens that is going to JANATA, January 19, 2020 3

be vested in the bureaucracy at a of police action in recent days only Amendment Order, 2019 (issued fairly junior level has the scope to in those states where the local police on 30 May 2019) has unnecessarily be employed in an arbitrary and is controlled by the party in power stoked fears that Foreigners’ discriminatory manner, subject to at the centre only adds credence Tribunals can now be set up on the local pressures and to meet specific to the widespread feeling that the orders of any District Magistrate political objectives, not to mention NPR–NRIC exercise could be used in India and is the precursor to a the unbridled scope for large-scale for selective targeting of specific widespread exercise to identify corruption. Added to this is the communities and individuals. “illegal migrants”. While the central provision for objections to the draft Added to the inconvenience that government may contend that there Local Register from any person. The the NPR would put the common is no such intention, it was surely Assam NRC exercise has thrown person through is the unnecessary impolitic, given the prevailing up the dangers of such a large- expenditure on the NPR exercise, atmosphere in Assam and elsewhere, scale exercise: lakhs of citizens when data which is now to be to issue such blanket orders delegating have been made to spend their gathered is already available through powers for constituting Foreigners’ life’s savings running from pillar the Aadhaar system: these include Tribunals. The experience with to post to establish their citizenship name, address, date of birth, Foreigners’ Tribunals in Assam has credentials. Worrying reports are father/husband’s name and gender. been, to put it bluntly, traumatic for already coming in of people in Most Indian citizens are already those at the receiving end. After different parts of India rushing covered by Aadhaar. The purpose running the gamut of gathering in panic to obtain the necessary of gathering a lot of the additional documents and answering objections birth documents. The problem is data (over and above the Aadhaar to their citizenship claims, “doubtful magnified in a country where the details) is unclear and will only give citizens” have also had to contend maintenance of birth records is rise to the reasonable apprehension with these Tribunals, the composition poor, coupled with highly inefficient that the bona fide citizen could and functioning of which were birth registration systems. Errors of be enmeshed in an interminable, highly discretionary and arbitrary. inclusion and exclusion have been a costly bureaucratic exercise if his/ Consequently, a number of citizens feature of all large-scale surveys in her citizenship status comes under lost their lives in the quest for India, the Below Poverty Line survey doubt. affirming citizenship or have had to and the Socio-Economic Caste Our group of former civil suffer the indignity of incarceration Census being prime examples. The servants, with many years of service in detention camps. recently completed NRC exercise in in the public sphere, is firmly of There have also been media Assam has been equally error-ridden the view that both the NPR and the reports, not denied by the and has led to major discontent. NRIC are unnecessary and wasteful Government of India, that orders Indeed the State Government itself, exercises, which will cause hardship for setting up detention camps have with the BJP in power, has rejected to the public at large and will also been given to all state governments. its own NRC data, an extremely entail public expenditure that is We are frankly bemused by the ludicrous scenario. better spent on schemes benefiting Prime Minister’s recent statement The provisions of the CAA, the poor and disadvantaged sections that no such camps are in existence, coupled with rather aggressive of society. They also constitute an when reports have documented the statements over the past few invasion of the citizens’ right to construction of such camps in states years from the highest levels of privacy, since a lot of information, as far apart as Goalpara in Assam this government, rightly cause including Aadhaar, mobile numbers and Nelamangala in Karnataka deep unease in India’s Muslim and voter IDs will be listed in a and the intention to construct a community, which has already document, with scope for misuse. detention centre in Navi Mumbai faced discrimination and attacks on in Maharashtra. The Government issues ranging from allegations of Why authorise widespread setting of India has not come out with any love jihad to cattle smuggling and up of Foreigners’ Tribunals and statistics to show that the “illegal beef consumption. That the Muslim detention camps?: migrants” problem in India is so community has had to face the brunt The Foreigners (Tribunals) severe that it requires the large-scale 4 JANATA, January 19, 2020

construction of detention camps all apprehensions about the intentions procedures and the Citizenship over the country. of the Government of India has (Registration of Citizens and been the rash of statements by Issue of National Identity Cards) The constitutional and moral Ministers of the Government of Rules, 2003 in its entirety. untenability of the CAA: India in recent times, linking the (2) Withdraw the Foreigners We have our grave reservations NRIC and the CAA. The Prime (Tribunals) Amendment about the constitutional validity of Minister’s statement at a public Order, 2019 and withdraw all the CAA provisions, which we also meeting in Delhi on 22 December instructions for construction of consider to be morally indefensible. that the CAA and the NRIC are not detention camps. We would like to emphasise that a linked contradicts the averments (3) Repeal the Citizenship statute that consciously excludes of his Home Minister on repeated Amendment Act, 2019. the Muslim religion from its occasions in various fora. In such a purview is bound to give rise to welter of conflicting and confusing SATYAMEVA JAYATE apprehensions in what is a very large utterances, it is hardly surprising that segment of India’s population. A the ordinary citizen is left bewildered formulation that focused on those and is overcome by unknown fears, meceepeJeeoer efJe®eej suffering persecution (religious, more so when government has not mebkeÀuHe yeoueeJe keÀe political, social) in any country entered into any dialogue on this in the world would not only have issue. At a time when the economic meceepeJeeoer meceeiece calmed local apprehensions but situation in the country warrants the 12-13 pegueeF&, 2019, efouueer would also have been appreciated closest attention of the government, kesÀ DeJemej Hej ÒekeÀeefMele by the international community. In India can ill afford a situation where mebHeeokeÀ ë kegÀjyeeve Deueer its current formulation, the CAA the citizenry and the government does not even mention the word enter into confrontation on the ÒekeÀeMekeÀ ë jceeMebkeÀj efmebn “persecuted”, probably because roads. Nor is it desirable to have a ueeiele cetu³e ë 200 ªHe³es ceW GHeueyOe~ using this word in the context of situation where the majority of State mebHeke&À ë pevelee ì^mì - 7738082170 Afghanistan and Bangladesh would Governments are not inclined to (Heesmì keÀe Ke®e& Deueie) have marred India’s relations with implement the NPR/NRIC, leading to these countries. Given that the an impasse in centre–state relations, Government of India has powers so crucial in a federal set up like Janata Subscription to grant citizenship after a migrant India. Above all, we see a situation has completed eleven years in India, developing where India is in danger Annual Rs. : 260/- it would be instructive to know of losing international goodwill and Three Years : 750/- whether the Government of India has alienating its immediate neighbours, cleared all pending cases of “illegal with adverse consequences for the Demand Draft / migrants” till end-2008. Since the security set-up in the sub-continent. Cheque discretion to grant citizenship and India also stands to lose its position to exempt individuals/groups from as a moral beacon guiding many on the purview of the Passport Act, other countries on the path to liberal Mumbai Bank 1920 and the Foreigners Act, 1946 democracy. lies entirely with the Government We, therefore, urge our fellow in favour of of India, this discretion could have citizens to insist, as we do, that the been exercised on a case by case Government of India pay heed to the JANATA TRUST basis by the Government of India voice of the citizens of India and take without any need to go through the the following steps at the earliest: D-15, Ganesh Prasad, exercise of the CAA and mentioning (1) Repeal Sections 14A and 18 Naushir Bharucha Marg, specific communities from specific (2) (ia) of the Citizenship Act, Grant Road (W), countries. 1955, pertaining to the issue of Mumbai 400 007. What has given rise to grave national identity cards and its JANATA, January 19, 2020 5 A Million Mutinies Tied Together by Humanity and Hope

Prem Panicker

It was the Bharatiya Janata farmers protesting disproportionately was now asking them to prove Party’s New Year gift for a bigoted low prices for their produce; their citizenship was not lost on the base that did the party proud in the workers from MNREGA and other students. 2019 general election. It turned out government schemes protesting On the night of December 15, to be the inflection point, the wedge non-payment of wages; bank and the government made its biggest driven deep into the subcutaneous government employees, transport miscalculation when it opted for a fissures in society that cracked the workers, workers from public sector show of brute force that, it hoped, country wide open—and look where industries such as mining, steel would force the protestors to back we are now. and defence production; port and off. It sent its police force into the Wednesday, January 8 was a dock workers and telecom workers Jamia Milia Islamia (JMI) campus to remarkable day, even by the standards protesting the impact on their lives of unleash hell—and that set in motion of a remarkable period of public a rapidly sinking economy. They were a chain reaction that now roils the activism that began shortly after joined by workers from the private country. parliament passed the Citizenship sector across industries such as Universities across the country (Amendment) Bill on December automobile manufacturing, textiles, came out to protest the JMI 11, 2019. According to estimates, power, metals, the IT industry. atrocity. The women of Shaheen some 250 million protestors took And, of course, students alongside Bagh occupied an arterial road in to the streets that day to protest teachers, doctors, scientists, lawyers, the national capital to protest the against the Centre’s ‘anti-people the trans and LGBT communities, physical assault on the students, policies’, including the Citizenship Dalit and Muslim groups… It was many of whom have ties to the (Amendment) Act (CAA) . so bad, to quote a catchphrase of our locality. Others came out in support That number underscores the times, that even the famously insular of Shaheen Bagh. problem of wrapping your head St Stephens’ College, in New Delhi, In an empathetic essay addressed around the sheer enormity of what joined in. to the victims on 9/11, Toni Morrison started off as a protest and has now In tandem with the numbers talked of having no real solace to assumed the contours of a full- and the inclusive demographic offer, nothing to give “except this fledged total revolution—a phrase sweep, a third facet of this pan-India gesture, this thread thrown between last heard in 1974 when the students revolution—for it is manifestly too your humanity and mine…” of Bihar took to the streets and wide in scope, too broad in its sweep, Threads linking the common triggered a chain reaction that ended to be characterised as a ‘protest’ humanity of protesting Indians in the declaration of the Emergency anymore—is the ‘why’ of it. multiplied rapidly. When brutal and the emergence of a united, repression was unleashed in various fiercely determined opposition with Government’s miscalculation parts of Uttar Pradesh, more people Jayaprakash Narayan at its head. In the days immediately came out to oppose that. And to Given the sheer size of the following the passing of the CAA, protest the lockdown in Kashmir. country, you could look at the students took to the streets to protest Protestors were arrested, cases turnout and say big deal, less than its unconstitutional nature which, were filed—and even more people one in five citizens protested— coupled with Union home minister came out to protest those arrests. which is to say that four in five Amit Shah’s repeated twinning A government relying on a visibly did not. But you could also look at of the CAA with the National failing playbook unleashed more that same number and say that the Register of Citizens (NRC) and violence, this time at Jawaharlal protestors, taken together, made up the National Population Register Nehru University (JNU), using its the fifth largest country in the world. (NPR), threatened to put the onus student stormtroopers as spearhead More even than numbers, it is the on every Indian to prove her or his and the vice-chancellor and the composition that makes the protests right to citizenship. The irony that police as enablers—and that in of January 8 remarkable. There were a government elected by citizens turn triggered more, and more 6 JANATA, January 19, 2020

widespread, protests against state- in West Bengal—have waffled attempting to get the students to sign sponsored thuggery. ‘We are all and whiffed, the dormant political pro-CAA posters got told off—and, JNU’, read one of the first protest instincts of students and of civil as bonus, the students of St Joseph’s signs to go up at Mumbai’s Gateway society have kicked in. Leaderless College took up the cudgels on of India, where an ‘occupy’ protest though the protests were at the behalf of JNC. An attempt to co-opt spontaneously evolved within hours outset, those involved have shown Bollywood resulted in just a few of the stomach-turning videos from a remarkable grasp of the grammar B-listers attending an official event, the university gaining virality on of protest movements. while big-name stars and directors social media. The most visible manifestation made their presence felt at anti-CAA January 8 was the day it is in their occupation of space. rallies in Mumbai and elsewhere, coalesced into an avalanche. On Thus far, starting as far back as and Deepika Padukone appeared at that day, the millions who poured the Anna Hazare-led movement in the beleaguered JNU to stand with into public spaces across the country 2011, the BJP and its allies both the grievously injured student’s protested the CAA, certainly—but overt and covert have occupied union president Aishe Ghosh—a they also showed up to protest rising both the physical space and the striking image even the well-honed prices and growing unemployment; equally important mind-space. That BJP troll army has failed to counter. they came to raise their voice against has now been snatched from them, Equally, the government’s the slowdown in manufacturing and thanks to students and civil society attempts to use its propaganda consequent layoffs; scheme workers showing up in their numbers and thus machinery, including captive media came to protest unpaid wages and shrinking the space available to the channels, to portray the protests farmers came to protest unfair government and its propagandists. as an anti-national conspiracy of compensation for their crops; some The importance of this is the usual suspects—Congress plus protested the six-month long shut- underlined by the ruling party’s “urban Naxals” plus “commies” down in Kashmir and others the increasingly desperate attempts to plus “pseudo-intellectuals” plus continuing detention of Bhim Army recapture that space—as for instance plus—has run into the headwinds chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad. in the out-reach program announced of viral videographic evidence of The protest against the CAA by the government, which mandated government-sponsored violence. has fully morphed into a revolution its elected representatives to reach Besides, such propaganda needs a against the government; it is now no out to their respective constituents visible, identifiable target to vilify, to longer about a single issue but about and which, from evidence available demonise—but this revolution, both all the discontents that have simmered thus far, is proving to be counter- inclusive and leaderless, blunts that beneath the surface through the latter productive in the face of stiff time-tested weapon. half of the NDA government’s first resistance from locals. term and the first six months of the Note also that the missed-call Snatching the emperor’s cloaks second. India has effectively erupted campaign flagged off by no less In an iconic anti-war speech in a million mutinies, each feeding than the home minister turned into at Canton, Ohio on June 16, 1918, off the others. And across this vast monumental farce. That Amit Shah’s American trade unionist and political country, action and reaction, call rally in support of the CAA was activist Eugene V. Debs said: “in and response, has begun playing out drowned in the storm of outrage every age it has been the tyrant, the with the urgency of a game of blitz when two young women, who hung oppressor and the exploiter who chess—with the state, thus far, falling an anti-CAA banner from their has wrapped himself in the cloak of behind on the game. balcony, were mobbed, physically patriotism, or religion, or both, to threatened, and finally evicted. deceive and overawe the people.” Leaderless but not rudderless A school in Gujarat, which The protestors have snatched A noticeable aspect of the events attempted to force its students to away this cloak, and have been thus far is that while the political write hand-written congratulatory noticeably successful in co-opting opposition, with a few honourable messages to the prime minister, the symbols of the Republic. Thus, exceptions—a Pinarayi Vijayan in had to backtrack and apologise to the instinctive holding up, at the Kerala, an Uddhav Thackeray in incensed parents. At Jyoti Nivas very beginning, of the Preamble Maharashtra, a Mamata Banerjee College in Bangalore, BJP workers to the Constitution which made JANATA, January 19, 2020 7

it to the early flags, banners and them into abandoning their siege; in courts, the media. protest meetings. Thus the iconic the kolam protests in Tamil Nadu The government will double image of the students of JMI, beaten and the street art in Delhi; in the down, and the hell with the cost. and bloodied by marauding police elderly gentleman who broke into “As a malignant narcissist,” wrote under the control of home minister an impromptu dance to the beat of psychologist Dr John Gartner, Amit Shah, on the police barricades the ‘Azadi’ slogan, in the fisherfolk founder of the Political Action defiantly holding up images of Dr of Chaliyam, in Kerala, who took to Committee ‘Duty to Warn’, “when Babasaheb Ambedkar, of Mahatma the seas in protest. And feel it in the threatened, Trump must reassert his Gandhi. verve with which, on that same night dominance over the world at all costs. Some have alleged that the of January 8, the national anthem was And to a sadist (one component of protestors were ostentatiously waving sung by the congregation at Jama malignant narcissism), the collateral the national flag—so pervasive Masjid—sung the way it is supposed damage is not a cost, it is a bonus.” now that suppliers are running out to be sung, with pride and joy and Try that cap on for size on the of stock—as defence against the fervour, with soaring voices and men now ruling India—and make charge of being anti-national. Not swelling hearts and not in reluctant no mistake, India is currently ruled so, though. Seen in tandem with the compliance with a state edict backed by just two men, who are much of a peripatetic use of the Preamble, of by the muscle of faux patriots. muchness—and you’ll find it fits, as Ambedkar and of Gandhi, this is You see that joy in the way recent events vividly illustrate. evidence of a nation-sized protest people from all walks of life, from What then do we have to look movement proudly appropriating the all across the country, have wrapped forward to? A year of endless, symbols of what they are fighting themselves in poetry and art and escalating pain is the best-guess for—an idea of India that is safe, song, and in infectious chants that scenario. Episodic state-sponsored secular, inclusive, tolerant; one that overwhelm the ‘Goli maaro saalon violence will continue, because that allows its citizens—all its citizens, ko’ that is the hate-drenched voice is the DNA of the autocrats who feel irrespective—the space to live and of the government’s supporters. And the garb of democracy hang loose work and love in peace and harmony. you see it in the way people have about them “like a giant’s robe/Upon There is a grim undertone to these resurrected the protest poetry of Faiz a dwarfish thief”. protests, born of the knowledge that and of Bismil and infused it with the At some point, a government there are no easy, immediate wins; “fierce urgency of now”. chronically allergic to domain the certainty that an increasingly But that is now—what though expertise will have to face an empty beleaguered state will escalate the of tomorrow? The very fact that treasury and a shrinking economy. violence, as happened on the night of the protests now encompass a wide At some point, it will have to take January 9 when the police yet again variety of discontents ensures that the lid off Kashmir—and that will viciously lathi-charged a peaceful there is no easy resolution, no produce consequences as foreseeable march by the students of JNU and achievable win within reach. as they will be disagreeable. At some their supporters, breaking heads point, the government will have to and bones. Hope lies in believing we do matter find answers that go beyond ‘mandir But there is also an effervescence, Repeal the CAA, promise wahin banayenge’ and address the a joy to these gatherings that is a not to implement the NRC? Not very real concerns that continue to collective thumbing of the nose in happening, not with a government bring the people out on the streets in the face of brutal authority. You see that is equal parts adamant and their multitudes. that joy in the students of JMI and arrogant, a thin-skinned government At some point, this knife-edge JNU, industriously working on the that knows any backward step will game of blitz chess will simmer down pavements outside their universities result in alienating the base. The into a timeless test of will and energy on crafting eye-catching banners and downfall of the government itself? and courage and determination. planning innovative protests. Not happening, not while it enjoys And the question will inevitably You see it in the clear eyes brute majority in parliament, has arise, among increasingly fatigued and strong voices of the women of four and a half years of tenure left, protestors: Why are we doing this? Shaheen Bagh, successfully staring and controls all vital institutions— At what cost? For how much longer? down repeated attempts to intimidate the law and order machinery, the To what end? 8 JANATA, January 19, 2020 There are no easy answers. But CAA–NRC Protests: Why Gandhi Would Have there is hope—an aureole of hope that surrounds every protest site around Been Proud of Today’s Youth the country. “It is important,” wrote the extraordinary essayist Rebecca Syed Ubaidur Rahman Solnit, “to say what hope is not. It is not the belief that everything was, Today, as the shadow of eviction Arguably, all those who have joined is, or will be fine. The evidence all confronts the anti-CAA protests that the protests, or even visited it, have around us is of tremendous suffering have rocked the Capital’s Shaheen had the chance to bond with people and tremendous destruction.” Bagh locality for one month, it is from different religious backgrounds So what, then, is this hope we cling to, this evidence of things not important to note how these protests than their own. seen, this hope that has, for a month have contributed to the nation so far. Syncretism has always been now and counting, brought people The protests—wherever they have a part of India’s culture. Hindu, out onto the streets—mothers with taken place in the country—have had Muslim, Sikh and Christian people their infants, students bunking a profound impact on the nation’s have stayed together in this region class, professionals finding time in psyche. They will leave a lasting for centuries, fought and struggled the interstices of work? Judging by imprint on all those who participated together, even sacrificing their lives conversations with protestors of all in them, especially on the youth. for united causes. The freedom types in Delhi, and Bangalore, and For the first time in decades, people movement, which began with India’s Tamil Nadu, and elsewhere, it is cutting across class, caste and first war of independence in 1857, rooted in the belief that this is the religion have stepped out on the is the most stellar instance of this right thing to do, that this is the right streets to oppose the Citizenship bonhomie. Shoulder to shoulder, moment to step up, to step forward. Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 and Hindus and Muslims fought the To resist. the government’s decision to create colonial rulers, who contrived “Hope,” wrote Solnit in her a national registry of Indian citizens to divide them along religious seminal book of essays, Hope in the or NRIC. The one big surprise these identities. The protests against Dark, “locates itself in the premise protests delivered is the bonhomie the CAA–NRIC pair help revive that we don’t know what will between communities it has fostered, the dormant memories of that happen, and that in the spaciousness along with the agreeableness across togetherness, which is exemplified of uncertainty there is room to act. protest sites. by Mahatma Gandhi’s solidarity When you recognise uncertainty, With their songs, street-art, with Maulana Muhammad Ali you recognise that you may be able theatre, music and speeches, the Jauhar and Maulana Abul Kalam to influence outcomes—you alone, protests have revived India’s Azad; or by Gandhi’s admiration for or you in concert with a few dozen syncretic culture, fondly known as Hakim Ajmal Khan and fondness for or several million others… It’s the the Ganga–Jamuni tehzeeb in the Dr Mukhtar Ansari. All this is part belief that what we do matters even northern plains. Considering the of India’s recent history, and the though how and when it may matter, who and what it may impact, are not climate of fear prevailing in the protesters have reignited those days. things we can know beforehand. country and the communalisation Maulana Mahmud Hasan, We may not, in fact, know them and lowering of public discourse founder of the Reshmi Rumal afterward either, but they matter all in recent years, these protests are Movement, and Maulana Husain the same, and history is full of people virtually unprecedented in blending Ahmad Madani were rock-solid whose influence was most powerful social differences into the common supporters of Gandhi. Yet it was not after they were gone.” identity of being Indian. This is just the top political and religious That is what this uprising has evident from how people from leaders of the time, but people of to cling to, in what threatens to be across the religious spectrum have every background who felt the same a year freighted with pain, with gathered at every protest site, be it togetherness. rage, with despair even: Hope. The Shaheen Bagh, Jamia Millia Islamia No doubt, the Partition was a audacity of hope. or Azad Maidan in Mumbai or the rupture, but over the last few decades (Prem Panicker is a journalist.) sites in Kolkata and Bangalore. the distance between the Hindu JANATA, January 19, 2020 9

and Muslim communities widened taken these ideas to their educational might have alienated people and kept into a gulf when, instead of healing institutions. In their attitude and the movement inclusive. old wounds, India veered towards in the slogans that they have been So, Ram Prasad Bismil and the Hindu right. The politics over chanting, the affinity of students to other revolutionary poets echo at mandir–masjid made the Muslims Constitutional values has become the protest sites, especially Faiz and Hindus suspicious of each other more than was apparent. Ahmed Faiz’s powerful ‘Hum Bhi again, choking inter-community Dekhenge’, which has got another interactions over the last two or three Nationalist slogans reverberate lease of life as the war-cry of youth decades, which aggravated the rift. It again who oppose the discriminatory CAA is this lack of interaction between the Unlike a typical protest, those that rebels against the very soul of nation’s diverse social groups that joining the anti-CAA–NRIC the Constitution. At the premier tech the ongoing protests have countered. movements have been exhibiting an institute, IIT Kanpur, the authorities The politics around communal intense patriotic fervor. The tricolor decided to investigate whether ‘Ham sentiments creates apprehensions is the most ubiquitous feature of Bhi Dekhenge’ was “anti-Hindu”, and fears and divides people further. each of the ongoing protests. To after they received a complaint The recent protests across the be absolutely clear, the tricolour is against the chanting of this song. country have done magic to quell the only flag to be found at all anti- The IIT administrators were spurred, these mutual misgivings. CAA protest sites. Also, whether no doubt, by an obvious lack of a in Muslim-majority areas such as grasp over the Urdu language and Unprecedented bonhomie Shaheen Bagh and Jama Masjid the genre of protest poetry. This song In Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, in Delhi, or in those in the centre was sung against Pakistan’s tyrant- Delhi or any other city, young men of cities, such as the Gateway of ruler, General Ziya-ul-Haq: if it is and women from all walks of life India in Mumbai or Jantar Mantar against any religion, it was against and from every religious identity in Delhi, the slogans at the sites the bigotry that is often practised in have melded together as citizens are invariably the same. ‘Inquilab the name of Islam. speaking out against an unjust Zindabad’, ‘Hindustan Zindabad’ The scenario has proved a boon law. Such a sight had eluded the have been reverberating in the air for interfaith interactions. Not just nation for decades. Students and the everywhere. Equally popular is the Muslim hardliners, even the Hindu youth can be seen walking together, slogan for ‘Aazadi’, from India’s right elements have been denied dancing to the same rousing songs multitudes of social ills including space at the ongoing protests. and can be heard talking about the poverty. Few would have thought Despite the odds, India’s youth have shared values of the country. This is that these slogans will rent the air created a space for cultural synthesis unprecedented for most Indians in again, and so powerfully, and that like never before. They have fostered their thirties or forties, who grew up the college and school-going boys an atmosphere for which Mahatma in the late eighties or nineties under and girls, would appropriate these Gandhi would have been proud of the shadow of growing religious slogans for today’s day and age. them. polarisation. A welcome feature is that For most urban Indians under 30, extremist elements have been driven (The author is a writer and the sociability of the protest sites was out of the protest sites. Initially, columnist.) a completely alien experience until a thread of people with Islamist the government cleared the CAA backgrounds had tried to hijack the 2019 last December, which made protests by raising religious slogans. them reach out across every social They were soon driven out. The and class divide. Thus the protests failure of these elements is one big Janata have reinvigorated the idea that reason why people’s struggle against is available at all Indians believe in democracy, CAA–NRIC has continued for more equality and justice. They have than a month. Thankfully, those www.lohiatoday.com put these ideals on full display participating in these demonstrations through their protests, and also recognise the dangers of slogans that 10 JANATA, January 19, 2020 Shaheen Bagh: Thousands Say in One Voice— Nothing Less Than CAA Roll-Back

Tarique Anwar

A record crowd of over 50,000 posters adorn the protest site. A group threat to the integrity of the country. people gathered at the protest of protestors were seen making the There is a threat to the existence of site at Shaheen Bagh in Jamia country’s map with iron rods on one every citizen. Therefore, you need to nagar locality in Southeast Delhi of the carriage ways. sacrifice your comforts for a larger on Sunday, January 12 evening “We are shaheens (eagles) of cause,” she added. to extend solidarity to protesting Shaheen Bagh. This is a do or die Several protestors said they women, who have been staging a fight. And that’s why we are here were left with no option but to ‘dharna’ (sit-in) at Kalindi Kunj- for the past 28 days, caring a damn hit the streets as it was a fight of Noida highway for the past 28 about the harsh weather. We have their “existence”. “The good days days—protesting against the CAA– a one-point demand – withdraw are over. It’s an existential crisis. NPR–NRC. the contentious legislation and The NPR is the first step towards The huge turnout on Sunday at the notified NPA. Otherwise, we NRIC. Everyone who is not able to ‘Shaheen Square’—as they call the will not leave the place,” a mother make it to the proposed citizenry protest site—came in the backdrop of two young children told this roll, will be given back Indian of a protest led by Bharatiya Janata correspondent. citizenship through CAA as it will Party (BJP) demanding eviction Responding to government be implemented in retrospective,” of protesters from the arterial road rhetoric that protestors across the he added. and also raising violent slogans, country were being ‘misled’ about Three elderly women—popular such as ‘Desh Ke Ghaddaron Ko, CAA by Opposition parties, another as ‘Dabang Dadis’ of Shaheen Goli Maaro Saalon Ko’ (shoot the protester, in her early 30s, said the Bagh after they appeared on a traitors). government must stop considering national TV news channel—too have A day earlier, a few people the electorate as “illiterate”. “We been a constant sight at the centre had blocked the highway near are people who think. We cannot stage of the protest venue since day Sarita Vihar and reportedly attacked be misguided. We have read the one. several vehicles, asking the police new law, which has now been to forcefully evict the Shaheen notified. It is discriminatory and Unity in Diversity Bagh protestors. Two of them were unconstitutional. Don’t think that all On Sunday, people belonging later taken into custodyand sent to those who are out on the streets are to different faiths came together jail. ignorant like you (the government),” at Shaheen Bagh to take part in On Sunday, apart from the usual she said in anger. ‘Sarv Dharma Samvad’ (equal chanting of ‘azadi’ slogans, the On the blockade of the road, respect for all religions or peaceful demonstrators came up with a very which is used by office goers and co-existence of all religions). The artistic way of registering their commercial purposes, resulting in inter-faith ceremony was organised protest. A replica of India Gate has inconvenience to many, an elderly with traditional ‘hawan’ performed come up in a corner with names of protester said: “It is a fight for them as by a Hindu priest, Quran recitation people who lost their lives during well. They are not realising that a big by local Muslims, Sikh ‘kirtans’ and the anti-CAA protests across the problem is waiting for them. They, Bible recitation. country. too, will have to pass the citizenship Later, they all read out the An iron grilled ‘detention camp’ test. They will also have to stand Preamble of the Constitution and is another centre of attraction, with in queues. We also don’t want to pledged to preserve India’s “socialist men, women and children getting sit in the open in this cold weather. and secular” values. inside and getting clicked. We have our family commitments. ‘Sarva Dharma Samvad’ was Different graffiti and interesting But we are here because there is a popularised by Mahatma Gandhi JANATA, January 19, 2020 11

during India’s freedom struggle she is fighting,” said Vasundhara, a is the symbol of unity and integrity. against British rule to promote inter- student of Jamia Millia Islamia. Unfortunately, this very flag is under faith harmony. Astha, a student of National attack these days. I urge Prime Law University, who had come to Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw ‘Read for Revolution’ Shaheen Bagh for the first time, the black law his government has A makeshift library in a corner shared her experience in a Muslim enacted. We are Muslims, it is our of the protest site is one of the major ghetto. “People are very cordial identity. But we are equal citizens attractions where children, men here. There are small children and of the country guaranteed by our and women can be seen engaged in hijab clad women. It is breaking all beloved Constitution,” she said. designing posters and reading books. sterotypes regarding Muslim women. Shaheen Bagh is now a It has been organised by a group of They are out on streets demanding playground of resistance and in its Jamia students. for their rights and fighting back the garden bloom voices of dissent that “The aim to set up this makeshift government’s decision to impose will continue to resound through the library is to educate people. We an unconstitutional law. I am really country and inspire the people of encourage children to sit and study inspired. I have come here to extend India with an example of courage and know about the Constitution my solidary, respect and salute to the that cannot be cowered down and its preamble. Don’t just come to brave women,” she added. upon. raise slogans, come here and study so Showing a placard, a girl that you can be an informed citizen. studying in standard three, said she (Tarique Anwar is journalist at One must know about the fight he or was drawing the national flag. “This Firstpost.)

Shaheen Bagh-Inspired Protests Spread Across the Country

Abdul Alim Jafri, Chandni Doulatramani and Ruchika Goswamy

Shaheen Bagh in Allahabad via to save our Constitution. If resilient We couldn’t sit at home, pretending Kanpur women of New Delhi's Shaheen everything’s fine. Laws are being Inspired by the resilient women Bagh, Kanpur, Gaya in Bihar can sit framed to divide us in our own of New Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, 24x7 in icy winds, why can’t we?" country. Women aged 80 years old whose month-long resistance against said Sara Ahmed, one of the key and young children are all sitting the CAA and NRC is making waves, organisers of the protest. in protest today. When we started large groups of women began a The protesters are not just the protest, there were only 40-45 sit-in protest at Mansoor Ali Park Muslims. People from all age groups women, but by night, the number of Roshan Bagh in Uttar Pradesh's and religions are participating in the had crossed thousand. Our protest Prayagraj, formerly known as sit-in, mainly by women. is indefinite, and we will stand Allahabad, on the afternoon of 12th Another organizer, Tarannum firmly against the government's January, Sunday. Khan, said, "At a time when women arbitrariness," said a 50-year-old Over a thousand people, mainly are constantly struggling in many homemaker, asking not to be named. women, sat late-night despite a cold places and fighting the government in In Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur, sit-in wave sweeping across North India. this cold, how can we sit peacefully protests in Mohammad Ali Park have They were also joined by student in Allahabad? It is a fight for our been going on since January 7. The leaders and representatives from identity." protest site was dotted with various political parties, such as Congress For some, this is a fight to secure kinds of placards and banners and Samajwadi Party (SP). their children’s future. For others, with the revolutionary song 'Hum "When men raise voices for their it is a struggle for “peace” and Dekhenge', written by Faiz Ahmed rights, the police puts them behind protecting the country’s secular and Faiz. bars and prosecutes them, so we democratic ethos. Similarly, Shanti Bagh in women have been forced to agitate "Our children’s future is at risk. Bihar’s Gaya has also turned into 12 JANATA, January 19, 2020

a mini Shaheen Bagh where people women arrived at the maidan. As out of her house, but now she from Hindu, Sikh and Muslims they got down and walked towards believed she did not have a choice. communities, mainly women and the ground, several women chanted “We have to do something to save students, have been gathering 24x7 slogans, with calls for azadi— the country,” she said. Several since December 29. freedom—from communal politics. other women emphasised that they Dressed in a black burqa and dark were homemakers who rarely left Protest reaches Kolkata sunglasses, Tabassum Akhtar, a their homes, but added that Prime Since 7 January, the Park Circus 44-year-old resident of Ekbalpur in Minister Narendra Modi’s actions Maidan in central Kolkata has been south Kolkata, led the sloganeering. had “compelled” them to come out the site of a sit-in protest led by the “There is a fire in our hearts,” she in protest. women residents of Park Circus. The said. “We are very angry. We have no Some women said that they were sit-in is inspired by the protest at direct relationship with the children labourers foregoing their daily wage Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh. The women of JNU, but they are our everything.” to attend the protest. A woman in are protesting the CAA–NPR–NRC Another protestor, 22-year- her fifties said that she lives a few and the brutal attacks on students in old Rafiqua Hayat, said that on 7 hundred metres from the protest site universities such as Jawaharal Nehru January, she chanted protest slogans and cooks for families in the nearby University, Jamia Millia Islamia and for the first time in her life. Hayat neighbourhood of Malik Bazar. A Aligarh Muslim University. is a recent graduate from Sivanath single mother of three daughters, she Park Circus is a predominantly Sastri College, where she studied barely makes five thousand rupees a Muslim neighborhood. The protest accounts and finance. Until a few month. She said she had been at the is taking place in a ground outside months ago, she said, she had no protest site for three days straight the local mosque. Unlike other interest in politics. She would spend and had only gone home to take her anti-CAA protests in Kolkata, in all her internet data on Instagram medicines. “We have come here for which students and people from and Facebook memes. Now, she our rights,” she said. “Why should upper and middle-classes have regularly watches the news and we leave Hindustan? Why should participated, the Park Circus protest keeps track of videos on the NRC we let Modi proceed with the CAA largely comprises working-class and CAA to educate herself. and NRC”? individuals. At the protest ground, a large On 9 January, 21-year-old Hundreds of women, some space had been cleared out for the Firdaus Saba, dressed in a brown with their children, gather every women. Thin sheets of grey and hijab and royal-blue woollen shawl, day with posters and placards. Over white foam, along with cotton chanted azadi slogans into a mic. time, the residents of Park Circus mattresses, had been spread out. A The speakers behind her carried have been joined by others from makeshift barricade tied together her chants through the crowd. Saba across Kolkata. For a majority with ropes aimed to keep men outside is a physics student at Kolkata’s of the protesting women, this is the space. Women led all the chants. Aliah University. This was her their first time participating in a Once in a while men took over, not eighth protest as a sloganeer. On 8 protest. The protestors say that they to assert themselves, they said, but January, when she left the campus to intend to be on an indefinite sit-in, to give their “sisters” a break. In join the protests, she told her hostel until at least 22 January, when the addition to the protestors, there were authorities that she would not be Supreme Court is scheduled to hear around a hundred volunteers at the back until the next day. She spent petitions challenging the CAA. protest site, distributing blankets, the entire night at the protest grounds There is no single organisation water bottles, boxes of Chinese food chanting “Halla bol”—Raise your visibly spearheading the protests. or biryani and endless cups of tea. voice. The ordinary public is leading the Mussarat Parveen is a 55-year- “I wanted to join the protests movement, and the only banner they old resident of Ripon Street, located at Shaheen Bagh,” Saba said. “I are protesting under is the Indian two kilometres away from the couldn’t do that. I was able to see flag. protest site. A widow with three and participate in another Shaheen On the afternoon of 8 January, sons, Parveen is a homemaker. Bagh in Kolkata.” She passionately a truck carrying several burqa-clad She said she barely ever stepped elaborated on the reasons she was JANATA, January 19, 2020 13

protesting. “We are not Indian by the women are from Kishorepura government revokes the Act. We chance; we are Indian by choice,” she locality, close to the venue of the have been telling people that the Act said. “In 1947, we rejected the two- sit-in. Women of all age groups from not only affects Muslims, but others nation theory; we rejected an Islamic localities such as Vigyan Nagar, as well. We are trying to protect the state. Today, our Hindu brothers and Waqf Nagar and Kishorepura are Constitution,” said Nazneen Shah, sisters will reject the Hindu nation. sitting in the protest since Tuesday 40, a protester. We didn’t choose Islamabad or night. Since January 10, the venue has Karachi, or Bangladesh, we chose “I have joined the dharna hosted a string of plays, occasional India because it is a secular and because the government wants speeches and a volley of slogans democratic country.” our documents to prove we are against CAA and NRC. Protesters Saba added that in the founding Indian citizens even though several here have also vociferously vision of India, people were given generations of my family have lived condemned the attack on students the right to speak and the right to here,” said Maqbool, 75, of Indira in Jawaharlal Nehru University. freedom of expression. “Why are market locality. Protesters say that India today we being stopped?” she said. “We Shabana Farhat, 39, travelled does not need NRC or CAA but have a right to equality. Why is that nine kilometre from her home near requires employment, education being taken away from us? Why is the railway station to join the protest. and healthcare. “Most of these the Constitution being broken? We Despite the cold wave conditions in people were born here before the are not here as Muslims; we are here the city, she spent the night at the municipality was set up. They have as Indians. We haven’t come here to spot with more than half a dozen no birth certificates. Some are not save ourselves. We have come here women. even educated to understand what is to save the Constitution and the law. “Many women go home to happening,” said Maeraj Shaikh, 22. We will leave only after we have finish the household chores and saved it.” return to the sit-in later. The sit- (Abdul Alim Jafri is correspondent at in will continue until the CAA is Newsclick; Chandni Doulatramani How can Kota women be behind? withdrawn,” she said. is an independent journalist based New Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh in Kolkata; Ruchika Goswamy is protest has also inspired a similar Shaheen Bagh in Pune too reporter with Indian Express.) sit-in in Kota. A large group of women have More than a hundred Muslim been on an indefinite dharna (sit-in) women from different localities against the CAA–NPR–NRC outside of the city began the sit-in outside Konark Indrayu Mall in Kondhwa, the Eidgah grounds, calling it the similar to the demonstration Shaheen Bagh of Kota, on Tuesday in New Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh night. neighbourhood. “When the women of the country Organised under the banner of are organising protests against the Kul Jamat-e-Tanzeem, an umbrella CAA and the proposed NRC, how organisation of like-minded local could women of Kota be behind? bodies, the sit-in entered the The new law is a black law against fourth day Monday with protesters the spirit of Constitution,” said claiming they would not step back 28-year-old Shifa Khalid, convenor until the government revoked the of the sit-in. “unconstitutional” act. “Women in Kota got inspired by “It is like Shaheen Bagh. Over the protesters of Shaheen Bagh. Our 100 women and girls have been sit-in is also indefinite,” she added. protesting overnight for the last four Khalid said women in the sit-in days, while some drop by between are getting food and blankets from their daily schedule. We are planning the neighbourhood because most of to continue with the protest till the 14 JANATA, January 19, 2020 Pan-India NRC May Lead to Initial Exclusion of 10 Crore Applicants

Amitava Bandyopadhyay

The process of preparation of leading to 0.3% false negatives. would lead to an initial rejection of the National Register of Citizens Importantly, about six out of 8.8% applications. Assuming 125 or NRC may declare a true citizen 1,000 or 0.6% of the inclusions crore applicants, about 11 crore, an illegal immigrant or fail to were challenged. would be excluded. detect a non-citizen. Erroneously The estimated rates of 6.8% In case the percentage of illegal classifying a bona fide citizen as and 0.3% for false positives and immigrants is 1%, about 9.75 crore illegal immigrant is called ‘false negatives compare favourably with applications would be rejected. positive’ and failure to identify a published rates of different medical If the actual proportion of illegal non-citizen is called ‘false negative’. tests. Thus, these error rates are immigrants is 3%, the initial rejection While false negatives defeat the already low, and consequently any would be a whopping 12.25 crore. very purpose of the exercise, false further reduction would be difficult. Naturally, several crores of positives are traumatic for genuine Further, the rate of false negatives claims are likely to be filed putting a citizens and its high incidence is close to zero. Thus, improvement, severe burden on the review system. creates an atmosphere of mistrust. if any, needs to be targeted for false Further, every direct rejection would positives only. However, reduction almost certainly impact other family The Case of Assam of rate of false positives would members and the total number In Assam, about 3.3 crore require loosening acceptance norms. impacted is likely to be far more than persons applied for inclusion in the This is likely to increase rate of the direct rejections. NRC. The draft NRC rejected about false negatives, defeating the very b) 88% of the Initial Rejections 40 lakh applications. However, after purpose of the exercise. May be Wrong: If the true subsequent claims and scrutiny, 18 proportion of illegal immigrants is lakh applications were rejected. False Positives & Negatives for 1%, the number of rejections should Apart from the exclusions in the Pan-India NRC be about 1.25 crore. However, it draft NRC, objections were raised The actual rate of errors that would be 9.75 crore due to false against the inclusion of about two would be achieved in case of pan- positives. Thus, 88 out of every 100 lakh persons. On further scrutiny, India implementation is unknown. initial rejections would be unjust. about one lakh of these persons In Assam, the rates of false positives Even if the proportion of illegal were excluded. Thus, the final and negatives were 6.8% and 0.3%, immigrants is 3%, a good 70% of list published on August 31, 2019 respectively. Since these rates are the initial rejections would be unjust. excluded about 19 lakh (19,06,657 fairly low and compare favourably Such a high rate of unjust rejections to be exact) people, leading to with standard medical tests, it is likely to shake the faith of the the following estimates of false would be risky to assume lower common citizens on the state system. positives and negatives. rates of error for a larger pan-India c) Resource Requirement and 1. False Positives: The draft NRC implementation unless backed by Timelines: The NRC update in initially rejected about 40 lakh concrete plans. Assam was carried out for 3.3 crore applications, whereas 18 lakh The likely consequences of a applicants. The process required were finally excluded. Thus pan-India implementation, therefore, over four years and involved about about 22 lakh applicants out of are: 52,000 state government officials. 3.3 crores were wrongly rejected a) About 11 Crore Applications The 3.3 crore applications could be at the draft stage leading to 6.8% are Likely to be Rejected Initially: initially scrutinised in 35 months false positives. The initial rate of rejection of but settlement of 38 lakh claims and 2. False Negatives: The initial applications equals the rate of objections took 13 months. Thus, the process of updating NRC failed false positives plus the proportion rate of settlement of objections and to detect about one lakh or about of illegal immigrants. Thus, the claims was less than 1/3rd of the rate three out of 1,000 non-citizens presence of 2% illegal immigrants of original scrutiny. JANATA, January 19, 2020 15 Under these circumstances, a Large-Scale Bangladeshi Migration to pan-India implementation involving 125 crore applications, over nine Assam a Myth? crore claims and about 75 lakh Debasish Bhattacharjee objections against inclusions would be a project managers’ nightmare. Recently, much awaited that the total international migrants Without meticulous planning and migration data has been released has increased by 7%, from 51.55 control such projects are certain by Office of the Registrar General lakhs in 2001 to 54.91 lakhs in to lead to colossal cost and time & Census Commissioner, India. 2011. However, there is surprising overruns as evidenced in many other While demographers are presumably change in the source country wise large projects. busy analysing the data, certain data for foreign migrants. If we preliminary observations are compare foreign migrants who A Risky and Costly Affair noteworthy, especially in the context arrived in India during the two A pan-India implementation of of Assam where strong allegation of succeeding decades (1991–2001 and NRC is risky and likely to be a costly large-scale illegal migration from 2001–2011) then we find number of affair. About 11 crore applicants are Bangladesh has assumed greater Bangladeshi migrants’ flow to India likely to be rejected initially. Over significance post NRC. has declined from 2.79 lakhs during 80% of the initial exclusions are likely to be unjust. Thus, over eight While data on foreign migrants 1991–2001 to 1.72 lakhs during crore genuine citizens and many do not distinguish between a legal 2001–2011. Which means there is more family members are likely to migrant and an illegal migrant, but 50% decline in migrants’ flow to have a traumatic experience that may such data is important indicator of India from Bangladesh between the last well over one year. the volume and pattern of overall last two decades. Further, the large number of international migration in India Accordingly, there is sharp unjustified exclusions would surely and more specifically in the state of decline (25%) in the total number of have an adverse impact on the faith Assam. Bangladeshi migrants in India, from of the ordinary citizen on the fairness Census of India releases two 30.84 lakhs in 2001 to 23.04 lakhs in of the state system. In addition, types of migration data—Migration 2011. The proportion of Bangladeshi several million objections may be by Birth place and Migration by migrants in 2001 was about 60% of filed leading to an atmosphere of place of last residence. When a total international migrants in India, extreme mistrust among citizens. person is enumerated in Census at which has sharply reduced to 42% The huge complexity of the a place which is different from her/ in 2011. project is very likely to lead to his place of birth, she/he would be Similarly, number of Pakistani inordinate delays. Apart from being considered a migrant by place of migrants has also declined from costly, delay in this project adds birth. On the other hand, a person 9.97 lakhs in 2001 to 7.07 lakhs, to the personal trauma of crores of would be considered a migrant by that is a decline of about 29%. excluded genuine citizens. place of last residence, if she/he had Pakistani migrants are second Lastly, the entire exercise would last resided at a place other than her/ largest international migrants after require the services of several his place of enumeration. Migrant by Bangladeshi migrants. million employees at a great cost place of last residence is generally to the exchequer. Employing and considered to be a better way to Influx from Nepal managing such a large pool of understand international migration. While flow of migrants manpower poses a major challenge has considerably reduced from and may turn out to be the source of Influx from Bangladesh and Bangladesh and Pakistan, there is much delay and errors. Pakistan huge increase (30%) of migrants Referring to the Census data from neighbouring country Nepal. (The writer is Senior Technical on foreign migrants on the basis Number of migrants from Nepal has Officer, Statistical Quality Control of their last place of residence made a quantum jump from 5.96 & Operations Research Division, outside India and duration of stay lakhs in 2001 to 7.78 lakhs in 2011. Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata.) in India, one may at first observe Nepal still hold its 3rd position in 16 JANATA, January 19, 2020

terms of number of international number of foreign migrants than that demographic change in Assam migrants in India. Assam during the decade 2001–2011 is predominantly due to very high like Maharashtra (1.83 lakhs), Bihar socio-economic inequalities in areas African and American migrants (1.20 lakhs), Kerala (1.03 lakhs) etc. of female literacy, fertility behavior However, the biggest surprise In the context of Assam, of women (TFR), multi-dimensional is that India seems to have become again, the biggest concern is about poverty, adolescent marriage, spatial a preferred destination of American Bangladeshi migrants who came distribution of population (rural- and African migrants. Number of to Assam during the decade 2001– urban). Unless such inequalities are American migrants in India has 2011. The Census data of 2011 addressed, through socio-economic increased from a meagre 0.26 lakhs reveals that out of a total of 1.72 lakh development, the unequal population in 2001 to 4.00 lakhs in 2011 that Bangladeshi migrants who arrived growth pattern and, therefore, the is an increase by 1452%. Similarly, in India during 2001–2011, only demographic change would continue African migrants has also increased 1,916 migrants from Bangladesh unabated. by a whopping 491%, from 0.64 were enumerated in Assam. The (Courtesy: Sabrangindia.) lakhs in 2001 to 3.81 lakhs in 2011. major destination for Bangladeshi As a result, combined proportion of migrants still continued to be West Spectre of Fascism American and African migrants, in Bengal. About 1.51 lakh Bangladeshi Contribution Rs. 20/- overall foreign migrants’ population migrants, which constitutes 88% of in India, has increased seven folds, the total migrants from Bangladesh, Published by from 2% in 2001 to 14% in 2011. arrived in West Bengal during Janata Trust & Lokayat 2001–2011. It is worthwhile to D-15, Ganesh Prasad, The case of Assam mention here that successive census Naushir Bharucha Marg, Grant Road (W), Mumbai 400 007 In Assam, amidst widespread since 1971 shows that the number of allegation of large-scale migration Bangladeshi migrants who arrived from Bangladesh, the census data in Assam during 1971–2001 is on foreign migrants assumes special only 31,151. Another interesting significance. The 2011 census data revelation from the 2011 census on foreign migrants reflects that data is that American migrants out of 54.91 lakh foreign migrants (2,618) who came to Assam during in India, only 1.10 lakh foreign the decade 2001–2011 is about migrants are being censused in 37% higher than the Bangladeshi Assam, the largest number of foreign migrants who arrived in this state migrants being enumerated in West during the same period. Bangladeshi Bengal (20.05 lakhs) followed by migrants constitute only 16.6% Bihar (3.98 lakhs), Uttar Pradesh of the total international migrants (3.55 lakhs) and Maharashtra (3.24 (11,508) who came to Assam during lakhs). In fact, as per 2011 Census the period 2001–2011. reports, there are 12 states in India If Census data is to be believed, where number of foreign migrants is then there is no indication of large higher than Assam. scale migration in Assam, illegal or Again, out of the total 11.12 otherwise, from foreign countries, lakh foreign migrants who arrived in especially from Bangladesh, after India during the decade 2001–2011, 1971, and more particularly during the major destination is West Bengal the last census decade (2001–2011). (1.83 lakhs). Only 0.11 lac foreign Question is how long the allegation migrants came to Assam during the of large-scale migration from same decade (2001–2011). Also, Bangladesh will continue in Assam. there are 17 states, other than West On the other hand, there are Bengal, which saw arrival of higher stronger reasons to justify and believe JANATA, January 19, 2020 17 Economy in Shambles, But PM Asking Culprits for Solution!

Subodh Varma

In case you have been wondering media that the coming Budget, to population. Its growth is estimated why Prime Minister Narendra be delivered on February 1, will at a measly 2.8% this year, a notch Modi has been so silent of late, not have—you guessed it!—‘Big Bang’ less than the equally dismal last uttering a word about the CAA/ Reforms. year’s figure of 2.9%. This, despite a NRC protests and police killings A sidelight of this fairy tale very good harvest in kharif cropping or the continuing horror in Delhi’s is that Finance Minister Nirmala season and an equally good one Jawaharlal Nehru University or the Sitharaman has been totally (hopefully) in the ongoing rabi stream of numbers showing how sidelined in this exercise. It was cropping season. the economy is in shambles, here is reported, rather lamely, that she As a result of this deadly the answer: Modi has been closeted was attending meetings of the ruling slowdown, per capita income is continuously in meetings with a Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) projected to grow at 6.8% in 2019– slew of corporate heads, economists, frontal organisations, in order to 20, which is the lowest since 2011– venture capitalists, and ministers and collect views from the grassroots on 12. This is reflected in the fact that bureaucrats of all ministries. how to boost the economy. private consumption expenditure is The Richest Indian, Mukesh predicted to grow by just 5.7% this Ambani, Tata group's Ratan Tata, Harsh Reality year compared with 8.1% last year telecom czar Sunil Bharti Mittal, Now, take a quick look at the when the GDP was growing at 6.8%. billionaire Gautam Adani, Mahindra Indian economy. In last year’s Remember: private consumption Group chairman Anand Mahindra Budget, the government had expenditure makes up nearly 60% and mining baron Anil Agarwal predicted a GDP (gross domestic of GDP. were reportedly among those who product) growth rate of 7% for the The now suppressed National attended the meeting. current year. Latest government Statistics Office report on According to glowing accounts releases show that the expected consumer expenditure too had— in the media, Modi has personally growth rate is going to be about in the leaked version—pegged a taken charge of the economy, 5%, at constant prices. That’s an striking slowdown in consumption working from morning till night. 11-year low. expenditure. It had said that average It is reported that he has met 120 In nominal terms (without consumption expenditure in rural people so far—all of them top guns adjusting for inflation), the last areas declined from Rs 1,667 per in their respective fields. They are Budget predicted a GDP growth rate person per month (ppm) in 2014–15 CEOs of India’s biggest companies of 12% but this has dropped to 7.5%, to Rs 1,524 ppm in 2017–18. In and wealth advisers and wealth as per latest official estimates. That’s urban areas, it dipped from Rs fund managers. The very crème the lowest since 1978, as many as 42 3,212 ppm in 2014 to Rs 2,909 de la crème of India. Modi had years ago. ppm in 2017–18. That’s a decline once described them as the “wealth The manufacturing sector is of 4.4% per year in rural areas and creators” of India, and so naturally estimated to grow by just 2% this 4.8% in urban areas. There has he is consulting them on how to push year, lowest in 13 years, since never been such a sharp decline in India towards the lofty and grand 2005–06. The construction sector is family consumption spending ever target of making India a $5 trillion expected to expand at 3.2%, which since the government’s National economy by 2024. is lowest in six years. Both these Sample Survey Organisation’s It appears that each ministry is sectors employ a large number of consumption expenditure figures making a detailed plan that is being people and slowing growth means have been available. personally reviewed by Modi on fewer job opportunities. All this has worsened the what they are going to do in the The real killer lies in the employment situation considerably. coming days. There is breathless estimated growth rate for agriculture, Over 7.3 crore people, mostly youth, anticipation among corporate the mainstay for over 50% of the are currently unemployed—perhaps 18 JANATA, January 19, 2020

the largest army of jobless people like slashing of corporate tax rates corporate houses will end up with India has ever seen, according and giving free funds to real estate more freebies. to Centre for Monitoring Indian and other sectors, and not turning Economy’s estimates. The aggregate the screws on defaulting industrial (Subodh Varma is a senior Indian unemployment rate was 7.7% in houses, new investments have just journalist.) December 2019, the ninth month not materialised. So, to expect in which it has been above 7%. In these bigwigs to start investing urban areas, it was even higher at now, is a pie in the sky. Yet, Modi is a staggering 8.9%, upending the brainstorming with precisely these The Unemployment widely held belief that urban centres people. Crisis: are engines of job growth. Another way of leading Reasons and more investment would be for It's a Demand Slowdown the government to spend more. Solutions What does all this mean? Why is This would create more jobs, and the economy slowing down? There increase people’s buying power, Contribution Rs. 25/- are two ways in which answers are spurring demand and thus boosting given. One, that there is flagging the economy. But again, the Modi Published by demand. The other, an opposite government and its international Janata Trust & Lokayat answer, is that there is a supply advisers are dead against it. D-15, Ganesh Prasad, problem. Depending on the answer, The government’s own finances Naushir Bharucha Marg, corrective measures need to be are in shambles as revenue has Grant Road (W), taken. barely grown compared with last Mumbai 400 007 The Modi government—and the year, according to latest report from bevy of people he is consulting— the Controller General of Accounts hold the view that if you kick up (CGA) for November 2019. As a investment activity, everything result, it is being estimated that will become alright. Businesses government expenditure will suffer will invest more, creating more a drastic cut, perhaps as much as 7% jobs, which will pump more money or Rs 2 lakh crore compared with the into the economy and economy Budgetary allocation for the current will pick up as people will start year. This is another grievous and spending more. This is a grievous, unpardonable error. unpardonable error. Or, the government could declare Have a look at this: investment increased wages for industrial and is estimated to grow at less than 1% agricultural workers, expand and in the current year—the lowest since universalise the public distribution 2004–05, that is, in 15 years. For last system, give increased prices to year, 2018–19 investment growth farmers, as demanded by working was 10%. Even during the 2008–09 people who went on strike on January economic slowdown, investment 8 for these and other demands. grew at faster pace. Yet, the government has so far It is the same Ambanis and Adanis obstinately refused to consider this and Tatas that lead investments. and doesn’t even consult the workers They have refused to put money and farmers for its planning. This is into new productive capacities the third grievous and unpardonable because they fear that it will sink error. in the face of inadequate demand. So, all the huffing and puffing by Despite the slew of concessions Modi and his cronies and servitors doled out by the Modi government, will lead to nothing—except that JANATA, January 19, 2020 19 R.N.I. NO. 1855/1957 20 JANATA, January 19, 2020 Postal Registration No. MCW/275/2018-2020. Published on Sunday, January 19, 2020 & Posted on Wedenesday, January 22, 2020 at Mumbai Patrika Channel, Mumbai GPO-1

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