The Amended Citizenship Act, which comes into force from January 10, this year amidst much protest in different part of the country, indeed has divided people of the nation into two – base on their ideology. When the groups against the CAA or NRC or NPR are arguing the constitutional validity, the Right wing groups associating the BJP advocated the compulsion for passing and enactment of the CAA followed by the NRC as they believe such an amendment will make a strong India.
The impasse between those favouring the CAA and those against the amended CAA is over the constitutional validity of the legislation. Well, as many as 21 petitions against the Act have been filed to the Supreme Court challenging its constitutional validity. It will not be right to comment on the legality or constitutionality of the CAA as it is in the highest court of the country and people across the country are waiting January 22 to listen on what the highest court of the country has to say about it.
What has been happening in the aftermath of the passing of the CAB and after it became Act after getting assent from the President of India is all about safeguarding the constitution of India.
To professor Akoijam Bimol of JNU, who is known across the country for his understanding on social and political issues, this CAA is widening the gap between the Nation and its ‘unintegrated region’. His opinion supporting his argument is well articulated in his writing that is published at one of the most respected web portal –The Wire.
When Prof. Bimol said that the CAA widen the gap between the nation and its ‘unintegrated region’ he is referring the North east states which has already felt a sense of alienation due to the treatment from mainland rulers by imposing various draconian act like the AFSPA , that gives license to the Army to kill common men on mere suspicion.
Sidelining the opinion on how Prof. Bimol elaborated in a logical way about widening the Nation and unintegrated region (preferably the North East region), Imphal Times on the contrary felt that, the gap and feeling of alienation between the mainland and the North East states, where aged old insurgencies existed fighting for restoration of the lost sovereignty has been slowly fading away with more people started believing in the Constitution of India. Whether it may be the civil society organizations, citizens and critic or say political parties all rise against the CAA saying that it is unconstitutional. No scholars, civil society leaders takes reference from the International law (Uti Possidetis Jury ) , or none challenges the implementation of such CAA which could endangered the demographic imbalance in Manipur, which was annexed by the Indian Union illegally.
The recent agitation against the CAA particularly in NE states including Assam showed that people of the state which had never believe the constitution of India is slowly falling in love with the Constitution of India which does not have any provision to discuss issues of various armed revolutionary group waging war against the government of India to restore its lost freedom.
Today, as almost all people including CSOs think it necessary to abide by the constitution of India, it may take only few months that the people may forget that – Manipur, the erstwhile kingdom has been forcibly annexed by India and that too illegally.
