Democratic Secular Students Forum (DSSF), a prominent students’ forum of the institution, had organised a meeting to extend their support to the recently legislated Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 and National Register For Citizens.
Holding posters of support for the CAB, the student leaders of the DSSF held a gathering. While speaking to OpIndia about their stance on the matter, the President of DSSF Sudhakar Uppadhayay said, “This is the best thing that could happen in the country. Now, people who are persecuted, raped, and exploited because of their religion in neighbouring Islamic countries can now become the citizens of India.”
“We have organised this gathering to convey to the people that students of TISS resolutely support the government’s decision and share the same sentiment as the rest of the nation,” he said.
Sudhakar also claimed that leftist organisations active in the TISS campus will soon launch a protest too, but it will be a failure as always.
According to Sharvari, a student of psychology doing her masters at TISS, there are more people in support of the government’s decision of legislating CAB but fearing punitive action from the left faculties on campus, they have refrained themselves from coming out and openly expressing their support for CAB. However, Sharvari feels that it is imperative for students to make themselves heard.
One of the students who participated in the silent gathering said, “I want to join the Indian armed forces and having read or and understood what Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019 I fully support the Bill.”
Prakhar said ” When the two countries became independent, Pakistan had a good amount of Minorities and now what is the percentage.? Don’t people think where did they disappear! Aren’t we worried about the same.? Can someone tell me how is Bangladesh’s treatment for its minorities any different? Do they not have human rights? Are these guys any lesser humans? The stats are horrifying and what government has done I totally support it.”
The Bill became an Act on December 12 after the President’s assent. The Act states the refugees of the six communities will be given Indian citizenship after residing in India for five years, instead of earlier requirement of 11 years. The Act also proposes to give immunity to such refugees facing legal cases after being found as illegal migrants. The cut-off date for granting citizenship will be December 31, 2014.
The law will not be applicable to the tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura as included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Further, the law will not cover the areas covered under the Inner Line Permit (ILP), notified under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873. The ILP regime is applicable in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram.
