STATEMENT – CITIZENSHIP BILL , FIACONA is Concerned About the Assault on Gandhi’s Idea of India Through the Passing of Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB)
December 12, 2019. Washington DC. The radical Hindu government headed by Mr. Narendra Modi and Mr. Amit Shah has forced a flawed Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) yesterday through the Upper House of Indian Parliament. It is described by many as a step forward to making India a radical Hindu version of Pakistan. The bill was passed in the lower House of Parliament on December 10th.
Leaders and intelligentsia have decried the move saying it is a Black Day in the history of Independent India.
The Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations (FIACONA) sees it as an assault on the basic tenants of a democracy and the idea of a Union which brought over 450 kingdoms and principalities together to form a Republic between 1947 and 1953.
An inclusive Republic as envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi guaranteed equality to all her citizens where religion, gender, caste, race or one’s language would not make any difference. The attempt by the Modi government now to offer preferential treatment for people from neighboring countries on the basis of religion smacks that very idea on its face. It ignores a very solemn promise made by the founders of the Republic to her people.
The Bill discriminates also against the spectrum of Tamil refugees who have fled the civil strife in Srilanka.
FIACONA is concerned that these kinds of policies of a morally bankrupt government headed by Mr. Narendra Modi and his Hindu party may even cause the Union to break up. A civil unrest across Northeast as we are witnessing today or a regional revolt in any part of the Union in future due to the policies of this Hindu government will not be in the best interest of both the Union of India and the International community.
Political tranquility is essential for economic progress. Modi and his party are fomenting political instability while diverting the attention from real issues like the free fall of Indian economy due to mismanagement, and staggering unemployment in the country.
FIACONA calls for the boycott and isolation of radical Hindu political leaders for the sake of the long-term stability, besides political, economic and strategic interest along the Indian Ocean corridor.
FIACONA calls for the United States to understand the changing reality in South Asia and stop supporting or validating a bigoted government headed by Mr. Modi and his radical Hindu party whose values are diametrically opposed to the values the United States holds so dear.
FIACONA also endorses the call for sanctions against leaders who are driving this agenda, as proposed by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom
