By Nava Thakuria*
Guwahati: India does not only preach but practices secularism, democracy and pluralism as the great nation follows the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (world is one). Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Dr. Mohan Bhagwat, while inaugurating a book titled ‘Citizenship Debate over NRC and CAA: Assam and the Politics of History’ in the city today also stated that Indian citizens do not need to learn the concept of inclusiveness from other nations.
Sarsanghchalak Dr. Bhagwat commented that since 1930, there have been attempts to increase the Muslim population in a planned manner to exercise dominance and slowly turn this nation into Pakistan. Hence the original habitants got threatened to maintain their language, culture and other social values when the systemic effort was made to change its demography.
Speaking about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Dr. Bhagwat asserted that both have nothing to do with the Muslim citizens in the country. But unfortunately, a section of intellectual has tried to make it a Hindu-Muslim issue for extracting political benefits out of the controversy. He asserted that India was divided by a group of leaders without the endorsement of millions of freedom fighters and common Indians.
They wanted a unified Bharat, but their dreams shattered when many of them found themselves as Pakistani nationals, commented Dr Bhagwat adding that after the partition, New Delhi addressed the concerns of minorities, but Pakistan did not and it compelled hundred thousands of persecuted Hindu, Sikh, Jain, etc families to leave their ancestor villages and enter India.
Lately the country has witnessed the emergence of a large number of people who demand all constitutional rights but they do not like to perform duties defined by the same constitution, he opined adding that Indians are all relatives even though they pursue different languages, cultural activities, rituals and food-habits.
Thanking Professor Nani Gopal Mahanta for writing the book, Dr Bhagwat hoped that it would provide an insight with facts to the political turmoil that took place in recent past. Prof Mahanta expected an informed debate over the highlighted issues in the book, which is published by Sage International. The function was also addressed by Assam chief minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and Gauhati University vice-chancellor Prof PJ Handique.
*Nava Thakuria is a senior journalist based in Guwahati
