Challenging Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019: Straight from the heart

Tokika Sumi *

"Majoritarianism cannot be the law. Even the minority has the right to express its views. We must also remember that in India we follow the first past the post principle. Governments which come in with a huge majority do not get 50% of the votes. Therefore, though they are entitled to govern or be called as majority, it cannot be said that they represent the voice of all the people."
Justice Deepak Gupta during valedictory address on the topic "Law of sedition in India and Freedom of Expression" at the Workshop of Lawyers organised by Praleen Public Charitable Trust and Lecture Committee at Ahmedabad,Gujarat.

We are the Nagas who are proud to be called and recognized as the Naga Nation, who holds the pride in our great Naga history of our ancestors who's blood is still flowing in our veins. We are the Nagas who are called as Christians in religion who also dream 'Nagaland for Christ'.

Is this dream even getting stronger or is it just a name being called? Are we all just becoming a mockery?

Mocking by those people who do not know about our rich culture, our rich lifestyle and that land of warriors, yet we are being forced to follow this unconstitutional Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 by them! Or maybe it wasn't at all by force, maybe if we were as rich as our culture as strong as we really think we are, as United as other states think we are, then maybe life would be at ease today.

Just maybe, maybe with that set of United spirit, these all mess would never even have occurred, as it's happening and soon coming straight to our doors. Today we're blaming the minister; tomorrow the other upcoming minister will be blamed too.

Now come on all! Why are they being blamed when we are the one who've chosen the wrong candidates? People in the state itself are to be blamed more than those few ministers whom they think they're ruining it all. It's okay if we support people from our tribe or clan but what actually do we gain when it'll only bring chaos which will threaten our ancient civilization? We all knew but we did it-knowingly or unknowingly. Didn't we?

Since we all now know that we had chosen the wrong people for our state so maybe now in next election probably we'll all choose the better candidates/party we know we can count on. Or.. are we still about to attempt the same crime , just knowingly! I see now that I'm growing up and we are only talking professional but acts very unprofessional, aren't we all tired of this drama, just fooling ourselves when time is running out like a sand slipping through our fingers?

We speak too much, gossiping actually killing our intellect, whereas the foes come in actions and that cuts all the point of what we've actually talked and deliberated upon, which destroys everything making it as a permanent Chaos. Our history was not only rich but great, however, our present should be even greater in act!

Let's pray that it's not the permanent Chaos but a life lesson for us all. Ah! The prayers!….while praying, are we also acting like we're praying? When prayers are being offered and yet if the person does not act likewise his prayers, then what actually he is doing is all pointless, just like a person who wants to live life but does not understand its actual purpose. Are we living in an era of contradictions? Are we politically apolitical? Are we religiously areligious? Are we morally immoral? Are we innocently cunning?

It is said that, we all want real freedom but instead we're almost about to become the slave of the people who are not even the original inhabitants of our land, they are aliens, they are strangers who have been illegally living among us like termite, they are illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants.

Truth is, we are just letting things go pass by as the way the calamity wants to take us and then to exit away when our time expires, and this will also follow by the future generations as and when their time come if WE do not act now. Will things go worse than what's happening at this present scenario? I was just thinking, not much, not deep. Will survival of my people, culture,

and language be at stake? Will Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 give new life to those illegal aliens who are eagerly waiting to overpower us, evaporate us? Will it give strength to the hands of those who desire to change the nature, character and identity of this Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic of India? Will this Act a step forward to realize the theory of one nation, one leader, one government, one political party, one language, one culture, one law and one identity?

In school I was taught that India is an example of 'Unity in Diversity', but now with CAA I realize that the idea of unity is politicized. Will idea of unity imprisoned forever with the introduction of Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019? I am worried. Please help!

Eventually we're all going to leave this mortal body, however; you must not just go away that easily, please set goals, be a protector, teach your younger ones, even to those kids of 4. Let those kids of 4 too become enthusiast and support their people struggling for survival and justice naturally as they grow old, teach them to fight for justice, teach them to claim what is theirs.

Let them understand better than us as they grow older, let's build a generation where everyone is actually hungry to walk for the rights, for one's own crucial rights so that they will be able to build the future of their choice. We must all become hungry for truth because without being hungry, how can a person even stand to understand a thing of what someone else is saying or to even go beyond.

A hungry person will even climb mountains to fulfil his needs. The more we fall over, the more we sleep over our rights, our freedom and life will be brutally jeopardized.

Knowledge is a key to Justice. The time has come to educate each other and also our people about the true nature and intention of government of India which has been reflected in the unconstitutional provisions of Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, even though this issue goes silent, let's not just stay calm thinking it's all over!

The more we let time go and stay at ease, the more the chaos on the way. Do not say it's not 'your cup of tea', you'll only tremble and will face the unbearable consequences though you didn't want this to happen!

I know this is not the end! Humanity must come back! One heart of Naga nation must come back and show to other NE states that we're burning in the pain of flames of injustice too. With wisdom and knowledge, with right teachings and education to our friends, to the elders and mainly the upcoming younger generation we can at least make people aware of what they are going to face as a direct impact of the implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019.

It may take some times but we can do this together. Let's not become the real mockery, let's wake up first and show that we're undefeatable and bring back what is 'Just' for us! Our Land is Ours. Our Soil is Ours. No Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrant will ever be allowed to steal the wealth that has been bequeathed to us by our great ancestors.

Let us oppose Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 by Constitutional means and modes. Let us not shy away from invoking our rights enshrined in the Constitution of India under Art. 19, Art. 21, Art. 32, Art. 226/227 to challenge the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 in the interest of our survival.

The future of our people is in the hands of us. The future of this nation depends on us. Knowledge will make one realize the truth of his own existence. Only knowledge will make one realize how much capable he or she is to change the destiny of millions of helpless people.

Only knowledge is the way out of darkness, to the glorious light. Let us be the architect of our own destiny, let us be the light in the dark. Let us say no to Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019. Let us say no to the Majoritarianism.

Let us express our constructive dissent peacefully by constitutional means and modes, and then victory will be ours.