India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI —The Students Collective, a unified front representing student leaders from various universities and organisations, has vehemently opposed the recent Gazette notification issued by the Government of India to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019.
The Collective includes Abdullah Faiz from Students Organisation of India (SIO), Prasenjeet Kumar from All India Students Association (AISA), Alfauj from Fraternity Movement and Pushpendra from Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association (BAPSA).
In a media statement , the Collective said that the CAA is a direct affront to the fundamental spirit of the Indian Constitution.
“The decision to grant citizenship based on religious grounds while excluding a major minority, specifically Muslims, strikes at the core principles of equality, secularism, and inclusivity enshrined in our Constitution. By intertwining the implementation of CAA with the National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), the government risks stripping citizenship from vulnerable Muslim minorities,” the Collective said, declaring they “adamantly oppose any such discriminatory actions.”
They said they view the timing of this declaration as nothing short of an election gimmick, designed to polarize communities and sway votes through a divisive communal agenda. It is evident that the government lacks confidence in its “Sabka saath, sabka Vikas, Sabka Viswas” developmental agendas and instead resorts to exploiting communal sentiments for political gain.
“Furthermore, even prior to the implementation of CAA, campuses across the nation have witnessed a disturbing militarization, with heavy police and paramilitary presence. Instances of police intrusion into educational institutions and the arbitrary detention of students, as observed in institutions like Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Delhi University (DU), are deeply concerning. The collusion between campus administrations and law enforcement agencies in targeting students is a blatant violation of democratic principles and student rights,” the Collective leaders said.
“We firmly reiterate our stance on CAA and seek immediate intervention of all Stakeholders and Concern Citizens to prioritize the protection of constitutional values and the rights of all citizens, irrespective of their religion or background. We call upon all justice-loving countrymen to join us in our steadfast commitment to upholding the secular fabric of our nation and safeguarding the rights and dignity of every individual,” the statement said.
