New Delhi, March 15:
Student bodies convened a joint press conference at the Press Club of India here Thursday to address concerns over the Gazette notification to implement Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019.
Representatives from student organizations including AISA, BAPSA, Fraternity Movement and SIO, namely Prasenjeet Kumar, Alfauz, Abdullah Faiz, and Pushpendra, addressed the press conference.
The Students Collective, a unified front representing student leaders from various universities and organizations, vehemently opposed the recent Gazette notification to implement CAA 2019. They said, “Our collective stands firm in its conviction 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. We adamantly oppose any such discriminatory actions,” they said in a statement.
“we 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” development agendas and instead resorts to exploiting communal sentiments for political gain,” it added.
“Even before the implementation of CAA, campuses across the nation have witnessed 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 and Delhi University, 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,” it further said.
“We firmly reiterate our stance on CAA and seek immediate intervention of all stakeholders and concerned 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 concluded.
Also, on March 13, in a steadfast display of opposition to the Government’s bid to enforce the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), a coalition of various student organizations including AIRSO, AISA, AISF, Collective, CRJD, DISSC, Fraternity Movement, MSF, SFD, SFI, and SIO convened a joint press conference at Gate No. 7 of Jamia Millia Islamia to condemn the government’s announcement to enforce the CAA.
The students articulated their firm stance against the discriminatory nature of the CAA, which they perceive as a deliberate attempt to mould India into a Hindu-centric nation. Emphasizing the timing of the implementation, strategically unveiled ahead of the 2024 General Elections, the move was interpreted as a calculated manoeuvre to sway voters while diverting focus from pertinent issues such as Electoral Bonds and Electoral Voting Machines (EVMs).