New Delhi: The CAA was passed in 2019 to fast-track the citizenship process for non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The opponents of the law insist it is discriminatory and unconstitutional as it links faith to citizenship in a secular country. CAA triggered fears of a fresh influx of immigrants into Assam from Bangladesh and sparked protests in the state. Its opponents in Assam say the legislation violates the 1985 Assam Accord signed following an agitation for the detection and deportation of undocumented immigrants irrespective of their faith. The accord set March 24, 1971, as the cut-off date for the detection. A process in line with the accord was carried out in Assam and led to the exclusion of around two million people from the NRC. Bhagwat insisted the CAA and NRC are not against any Indian citizen. “The (1950) Nehru-Liaquat Pact clearly stated that each country would protect its minorities. India has been following it, Pakistan failed to do so,” said Bhagwat at the launch of Gauhati University professor NaniGopalMahanta’s book on NRC and CAA.

Bhagwat said Indians always welcomed outsiders, “but designs by some to impose their language, religion and food habits on others led to fears”. He said 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”. “This was true for Punjab, Sindh, Assam, and Bengal. The plan worked to an extent as India got partitioned and Pakistan was created. But it did not happen entirely as planned and Assam did not go to Pakistan, though part of Bengal and Punjab got divided.” Bhagwat said this forced some persecuted people in Pakistan to come to India seeking refuge. He added others came with the idea of increasing their population. Respect for other religions, cultures, and languages are part of India’s culture. We do not have to learn about secularism, socialism, democracy from anyone else in the world. Our Constitution clearly defines rights and duties. The problem arises when people want all rights and do not want to follow the duties.”

Bhagwat said they cannot ignore the plight of minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh. “The provisions of CAA are meant for those who were persecuted in those countries and came to India for refuge. It is not for those who came to India without facing any persecution.” He maintained exercises such as NRC happen in every country to find out who among those residing in a nation are citizens. “It is the duty of all governments to keep a tab on people (who stay in a country illegally). NRC is just one way of finding that out.”