the goan I network
MARGAO
Demanding that the Government of India carry out its functions as the protector of law and people’s rights, the Peoples Forum for Justice, Secularism and Democracy(PFJSD) has said the government is setting off civil strife by resorting to the sponsor of counter protests using violence, and demanded that the government acts within purview of justice, affirms secular principles, and is democratic.
At a public meeting on “CAA-NRC-NPR “ impact on coastal communities”, at the Dando grounds, Benaulim on Saturday, the Forum comprising of the Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP), Concerned Citizens for Goa (CCG) and the National Confederation of Human Rights Organizations (NCHRO) adopted a host of resolutions, including a resolution declaring that the people will not voluntarily show documents under the provisions of the CAA regime, saying “we deem the CAA itself as unconstitutional”.
The people of the coastal communities also resolved to ask that each of the Panchayats initiate Special Gram Sabhas to pass resolutions rejecting CAA-NRC-NPR in its current form and insist that the government reflect the people’s aspirations in the laws.
“We, the citizens of the coastal communities, along with our co-citizens around Goa, and in the country, speak with a sense of urgency and alarm at the recent violence in north east Delhi over the anti-CAA protests. It is clear to us that the violence against the protesters has been planned under the guise of political mischief. The violence is tragic and is disapproved and condemned in strongest terms”, a resolution stated, demanding that the perpetrators of the crimes be caught and punished and the victims compensated and offered protection.
The meeting has further resolved to demand that the government act justly and be attentive to the voices of people and withdraw CAA-NRC-NPR in its present form and engage in wide ranging consultative political processes and then come up with a reasonable and just set of laws.
In his welcome address, Fr Savio Fernandes, Co-Convener and Moderator of the meeting said that democracy is not about a once-in-five year vote which gives politicians a free hand to do just as they please. “Even if a party has a majority, it does not give them a mandate to act unilaterally. Each legislation must be properly channeled through public scrutiny in the equivalent of referendums,” he said.
Adv Cleofato Coutinho emphasized that CAA injects communal virus into the secular polity. “It is atypical to base citizenship on religion. If we accept this law, India would shake the foundational principles of our country. CAA may conceal its true intent by giving the impression that it is humanitarian in scope. The truth is that it is vicious and divisive”, he said, while expressing satisfaction that for the first time after emergency students and youth are confronting authoritarianism.
Ramakrishna Jalmi, from GAKUVED, a coalition of tribal organizations, argued in favour of adopting just norms in law making it in favour of tribals, fisher folk, and forest dwellers, saying the tribals are determined to challenge CAA because it is will deprive them of land -- their only access to livelihood.
Muzzafar Shaikh narrated anxieties of minorities in India under the CAA. He stated that it may seem that the only victims of CAA will be the Muslims. “We are loyal citizens of this country and we made the choice to be Indians at Independence, who is the government to question our standing? But he added that the Muslims are in solidarity with tribals, Dalits, bahujans, the farmers, fisherfolk, and all working class who will be affected.
