Why North-East Citizens Rebel
Columns, Point of View

Why North-East Citizens Rebel

February 5, 2019

By T.J.S. George

Imagine all South Indian States uniting on a platform of ethnic difference from the North, as C.N. Annadurai briefly contemplated once upon a time. Something similar is happening in the North-East. Ethnically, culturally and historically, the North-Eastern States have been different from the rest of India. North-Easterners often talked about going to the “mainland” when they meant going to India. The mainlanders for their part often referred to North-Easterners in terms and tones of racial superiority.

Elections last February signalled what looked like a sea-change in this scenario. The Congress was unseated and so was the Communist Party that had ruled Tripura under one leader for 20 years. A triumphant BJP formed a one-party government in Tripura while it formed alliances with other parties to take control of the remaining States. It was a clean sweep for the BJP which has had no presence in the North-East till then. In political terms, it was the equivalent of a coup d’etat.

But suddenly last week, the gears slipped into reverse. An ideology-driven initiative by the BJP ignited resentment among its allies across the region. Protestors have taken to the street with mass demonstrations, burning of effigies, and hunger strikes. Six of the region’s seven Chief Ministers have suspended their BJP links and formed a united front to fight the BJP-sponsored move to enforce the new legislation in the region and across the country.

What is the BJP move that has provoked so much resentment? Outwardly it looks noble: Promoting a citizenship amendment bill that will give “persecuted minorities” in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan the right to become Indian citizens. The phrase “persecuted minorities” does not mean what it means linguistically. Shias and Ahmediyas, Islamic minorities routinely persecuted in Pakistan, qualify to be covered by the phrase, but that must be farthest from the minds of BJP strategists. Everyone knows that the BJP is referring only to the Hindu minorities in neighbouring countries. The proposed amendment means that Hindus in Bangladesh who migrate even illegally to the North-Eastern States and to West Bengal will get citizenship rights. Such migration/citizenship will alter the demographics of the NorthEastern States — a consummation the BJP wants and the local people don’t.

READ ALSO  Expect new levels of Patriotism

The powerful student organisations of Assam and the Assam Gana Parishad were the first to rise in protest. One leader put it bluntly: “Assamese and other indigenous people feel betrayed by the Modi Government which seems hell-bent on making Assam a dumping ground for foreigners thereby threatening our existence.” The Gana Parishad has ended its two-year alliance with the BJP. Meghalaya’s Chief Minister has warned that the North-East will seek support from across the country including the Congress. Thirteen local parties have said they would pull out of the BJP-led NDA if the amendment bill is taken up in the Rajya Sabha (it is already passed in the Lok Sabha).

Actually, there are issues involved here that concern the whole country. The existing laws do not take religion or ethnicity into account in determining citizenship. The “right of birth” is the accepted norm. If this is enlarged to include the “right of blood” it will mean the acceptance of religion as a determining factor. That is precisely the BJP’s aim as its lead strategist in the region, Hemant Biswas Sarma, made clear when he said: “We have to decide who our enemy is — the 1.5 lakh people or the 55 lakh people.” (That is, Bengali Hindu illegals or Bengali Muslim illegals in Assam). Note also that the 55 lakh are automatically considered enemy.

Make no mistake, ethnic cleansing is the idea. China is paying heavily for its cleansing drive in Xinjiang, its vast autonomous province with 12 million Turkic-speaking Muslims. This region has more in common with Turkmenistan and the people of Central Asia than with the Chinese which term, in the lexicon of Beijing, principally means the Han people. Beijing’s policy of “integrating” Xinjiang has been relentless. Military repression, re-education camps, Sinicization of religion and officially sponsored re-location of thousands of Han Chinese families from the Eastern heartland have not yet succeeded in changing the face and demography of Xinjiang.

READ ALSO  Thunderous lessons from Gujarat

India does not even have China’s luxury of a one-party dictatorship. Worse, it has a Constitution, a Parliament, a Judiciary with its own mind and a media that defies discipline. But there may be a way out. China used the camouflage “socialism with Chinese characteristics” to grow into a capitalist success story. If BJP goes for “Hindutva with Indian characteristics,” perhaps it may yet help India grow into a modern State.

[email protected]

www.tjsgeorge.info

3 COMMENTS ON THIS POST To “Why North-East Citizens Rebel”

  1. H says:

    mr george somehow manages to criticise amd blame the bjp from every angle.any work done by this goverment is twisted to show an ulterior motive.

  2. Prabhu says:

    Now a days you need a sense of humour to read this news paper! They keep twisting the facts that now truth is called a lie and vice versa. The objective is to get back to the olden days glory of looting and corruptions! Today Mamata is saving democracy by arresting an investigating officer, Afzal guru has a right to kill while the SC judges is considered a criminal. George, Satish Acharya are all just the torch beares of the anti modi brigade because they must have lost of wealth due to demonitization! Understandable ! Nobody who was left with a bleeding behind is going to see any progress Of 4 years! They know their back is hurting and can’t have that ailment continue for next term!
    Chandrababu Naidus 3 year old grandchild has a networth of 18.71 crore but MODI is a chor. None of Modi’s family members are rich! His mother travels in a riksha! Yet he is called a CHOR by the thugbhandhan gangsters!
    .everybody knows rich Devegowda clan has in Bangalore, Mysore and Hasan! A modest estimate says tgey own 1500 crores! WE ALL SAW D.k.shi show on all tv channels! Yet, we want to save our democracy supporting such people so that democracy flourishes for looters!
    Even Kejrival owns property of over 30 crores!
    After being a Chief Minister for 15 years Modi could not make a house and Akhilesh Yadav after being a chief minister for 01 term is building a 300 crore hotel in Lucknow but MODI is a CHOR.
    MODI may have failed to clean all the garbage, but has managed to accumulate all the dirt in one place ( Mahagatbandhan). It is up to us if we want to clean it as elect them as our rulers!
    Mayawati has a net worth of 4785 crores but MODI is a chor.
    A question as to what is MODI or a YOGI should be asked to a country who does not have a MODI or to state which does not have a YOGI
    Sonia Gandhi is the world’s 4th richest politician but MODI is a chor.
    One single wrong vote can bring the terrorist till your house and one single right vote can kill them on the border.
    Finally its your vote, Your Decision… Vote responsibly… Think of your children and their future!

  3. Aparna says:

    Well written Mr. Prabhu!

ABOUT

Mysuru’s favorite and largest circulated English evening daily has kept the citizens of Mysuru informed and entertained since 1978. Over the past 45 years, Star of Mysore has been the newspaper that Mysureans reach for every evening to know about the happenings in Mysuru city. The newspaper has feature rich articles and dedicated pages targeted at readers across the demographic spectrum of Mysuru city. With a readership of over 2,50,000 Star of Mysore has been the best connection between it’s readers and their leaders; between advertisers and customers; between Mysuru and Mysureans.

CONTACT

Academy News Papers Private Limited, Publishers, Star of Mysore & Mysuru Mithra, 15-C, Industrial ‘A’ Layout, Bannimantap, Mysuru-570015. Phone no. – 0821 249 6520

To advertise on Star of Mysore, email us at

Online Edition: [email protected]
Print Editon: [email protected]
For News/Press Release: [email protected]