A Resolutionist's Perspective of the CAB 2019

The Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 is firstly, an ‘Enabling’ Act. It is a Bill that gives certain rights to certain people. Let us be clear that it does not take away anyone’s rights.

What’s the difference between the two? An Enabling Act is one that gives ‘rights’ to a people when they don’t have any.

A Disabling Act is one that takes away the rights of a people who hitherto enjoyed a certain right earlier.

As of date, none of the people who are seeking citizenship today, have been granted citizenship. So it is not like they are enjoying any rights that are now being taken away from them.

 So what is the ‘Enablement’ ?

The CAB 2019 now gives the right to Hindus, Parsis ,Christians, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs from three countries only -namely, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who are already staying in India for the last many years , to apply for the category of a ‘naturalized’ citizen. 

The objection to the Bill is: Why is this right being denied to the Muslims of these three countries who are staying in India?

Actually, and hypothetically speaking, this Bill is also denying this right to Jews and to Bahaiis and to Scientologists, and to Atheists and to Adventists of these 3 particular countries, who are now staying in India.

Also, hypothetically, why should these rights be given to Hindus, Christians, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists, and Sikhs of these 3 countries only? Why not to the same of Nepal and Sri Lanka and Maldives and Myanmar and Bhutan?

All these are valid questions. And to certain minds, this can look like a clear discrimination. Why should citizenship be granted only to a few and not to all of those as mentioned above? 

Therefore, let us stress again- this Bill is an ‘Enabling’ Act. Not a ‘Disabling’ Act.

So, for example, there are 100 hungry persons. An Enabling Act is the act of feeding 50 of them.

Yes, one can validly question: why are you feeding only 50? Why not all the hundred?

Good question. It’s the question that all of us face all the time. Why am I adopting only one stray dog? Why not all?

Why am I giving alms to only one beggar? Why not all?

Why am I paying the  school fees of only two children of my maid? Why not give the school fees for all the maids’ children in my colony?

Fair questions. Difficult answers.

But remember, at least 50 will be out of hunger now.

At least a few will get their citizenship.

For the rest, I can only say this.There are others, and I hope they can take care of the rest, when they are able to. My neighbour, when he is capable of taking care of his maids’ children, may please do so. Let me at least do what I can do.

 When the next government comes, whether Congress, or AIMIM or the CPI (M) or TMC, nothing stops them from feeding the other 50. Or as the subject goes, nothing stops them from enabling this citizenship to Muslims…. and Atheists and Bahaiis from these three countries. And from any other nations too.

Enablement of one does not prevent the enablement of the other. It is only a matter of time.

Yes, today is not the time, today’s government does not wish to do it….but well, time and governments are never perfect. They never last too.

We are a democracy, we change governments every 5 years, and there will be another government in 5 years , which may very well enable the rest. 

Let us not forget that we have not 'enabled' anybody for the last 30 years.

For now, just focus on addressing the need to grant citizenship to those waiting for the same for many many years .

 In our debate to feed 50 or 100, we should never forget that our first duty is to remove the hunger. Not to debate the definition of hunger, not to analyse the kind of hunger or not to hypothesise on fears and prophesies. Right now, just address the hunger. Just address the desperation of these non-citizens.

And even it’s only a few now, don’t be disheartened. At least some are getting it. Remember that the glass will at least be half full now. You can fill the rest of the glass when it is your time to carry the jug of water.