As fallout of bomb blasts in Jaipur, the government of Rajasthan has launched a crackdown on the so-called Bangladeshi immigrants. It has become a pattern that soon after any terrorist attack, both media and political leadership embark upon fixing the responsibilities on religious and ideological considerations. Jaipur blasts are no exceptions. Crackdown on the alleged Bangladeshis has thrown some burning questions. We should go beyond the conventional perceptions and adopt a humane approach.
While discussing the issue, we should remember that Rajasthan is presently under saffron flag where trishuls are openly distributed with provocative slogans, where Hindu refugees from Pakistan are being given Indian citizenship. Policies of B.J.P and agenda of saffron organisations are to allow immigration of Hindus from Pakistan and Bangladesh but cry for security of nation in case of Muslims. Such double standard on religious consideration points out to a dangerous situation of social implications. It is also a pointer that we are becoming a fascist state.
We must see the entire canvas. There is a marked difference between ‘migrants’, the displaced ‘homeless’ and ‘refugees’. After the end of World War II, more people have migrated across the globe. Migration takes due to a variety of reasons but employment and financial aspect is more important. In a civilized society or a democratic country like India, migrants need protection from discrimination and some affirmative government action should be there to save their lives. The homeless also deserve the same treatment. Both migrants and homeless suffer because they have a well founded fear of harassment and torture in their adopted country.
India’s policies on migrants and refugees remain a paradox. Tibetans have been allowed to stay here. The Government itself housed Sri Lankans in Tamil Nadu, judicial protection has been given to Chakmas in Arunachal Pradesh. Burmese have been allowed to be here.
Paradox becomes more complicated when I analyse two trends. Afghans were allowed into India and treated with relative humanity while the political situation of Afghanistan did not suit India. Bangladeshis were welcomed in India when in 1971 India was engaged in creating Bangladesh out of East Pakistan through the so-called ‘Mukti Vahini’. The uncomfortable conclusion is that Muslim immigration was allowed when that suited the government. That is not civilized or healthy trend.
Crackdown of the Rajasthan government on the so-called illegal Bangladeshi immigrants is partial and chauvinistic. Hegemony of a section of people over the other is the prime motive on religious and ideological considerations. The action is not with deep concerns of India’s security otherwise trishuls might not have been allowed to be distributed and divisive organisations should not have been allowed to translate their theoretical agenda into concrete realities. I doubt the intentions of Vasundhra Raje government.
There is another aspect of the issue. The Rajasthan government is targeting Bengali Muslims also in the name of illegal Bangladeshis. They have valid ration and even voters cards but the Home Minister says that Bangladeshis have procured these documents. If your system of governance is so much corrupt that anybody can procure these documents then before deporting Bangladeshis, corrupt public servants should be axed because they will remain security risk for India. However the fact is that Bengali Muslims are being targeted and nobody is paying heed to their cry. Mass exodus is taking place.
The Bengali and Bihari Muslims are now a besieged community; they wish to conserve their language and culture but at the same time are persecuted for the same. It’s not democracy, it’s simply fascism and we should contain this trend otherwise social tension will grip not only Rajasthan but the whole of India.
The paradox is more baffling when we consider abject refusal of the government of India to formalise its legal responsibilities towards immigrants due to economic constraints. Ironically, the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, and the Foreigners Act, 1946 contain no special category of such immigrants. Theoretically, the rights of such persons are ushered in by India signing the International Conventions on Civil and Political Rights, 1966, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, the Covenant on Economic and Social Rights, 1966 and the Conventions on Racism (1965), Torture (1984), Children (1989) and Women (1979). Despite these international protections, legal protection evades these people.
A final blow to our claim to be civilized is the support to Taslima Nasreen by those who are persecuting Bengali Muslims in the name of Bangladeshis. The State government, which is not shy on saffron armed training, will not review its policies. It is for the Central Government to do some sort of damage control. Political elite, who believe in justice, should contain right wing politics which is playing havoc with civil society.