Jaipur, Jan 27: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said that if the Citizenship Amendment Act leads to the implementation of the NPR and the NRC, it would be a complete victory for Pakistan's founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
He said that Jinnah's idea of a country was already winning in India with the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) coming into effect, but asserted that there was still a choice available.
"I would not say Jinnah has completely won, but I would say Jinnah is winning. There is still a choice available to the nation between Jinnah's idea of a country and Gandhiji's idea of a country," he said on the sidelines of the Jaipur Literature Festival on Sunday.
The CAA came into force in India in December amid protests across the country and around the world.
The MP from Thiruvananthapuram said that the amended Citizenship Act took Jinnah's logic by declaring that religion shall be the basis of nationhood, reaffirming that Gandhi's idea is that all religions are equal .
"The CAA is, if you are talking Tennis, you would say one set up or big first set lead for Jinnah. But the next step would be if the CAA would lead to the National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). If that happens, then you would consider that Jinnah's victory is complete," he said.
The CAA seeks to grant citizenship to migrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Christian, Jain and Parsi communities who came to India from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan on or before December 31, 2014.
On the BJP's defence that the NPR was carried out during the UPA regime, Tharoor said that the Congress government had utilised a decision of the NDA government led by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
"It never asked where were your parents born. It never authorised the enumerators to note on the margin 'dubious citizenship', a term used in the NPR rules crafted by this government. That is purely BJP's invention," he said.
If we go around this country authorising people to interview all the citizens, or identify some who have 'dubious citizenship', you can be pretty sure which Indians are going to be found on the 'dubious citizenship', he said.
"That will principally be one community that is not mentioned in the CAA. And if that happens, then it is indeed Jinnah's victory.
"From wherever he is, he can point to this place and say, 'see I was right in the 1940. We are separate nations and Muslims deserved their own country because Hindus cannot be just'," Tharoor said.
Speaking about the Delhi election, the three-time MP said that the maximum development in the national capital happened under the Congress government.
"What Sheila Dikshit did in her 15 years as Chief Minister of Delhi, no other leader could do it before or after her," he said.
Comments
what you know about HAJJ, first you try to learn your religion man you maron...you know in veda says there is no image of GOD, dont follow donkey, follow hindu scripture, first of all dont know what is hindu religion and goes to show finger on MUSLIM, look at you face in mirron and ask yourself do you following GODs religion or Devil religion...who is your god bootha or pure GOD.
dont act like maron of hindu community, think before comment, any thing happens to hindu then they blame muslim, what a joke,,there is saying that 80% dogs are worried about 14% lion in forest..haha
yo naresh, first try to learn veda the hindu scripture. which says there is no image of god..if you follow poojari then go to hell, who told muslims are not allowed, did you went any time to masjid to see how it is operated. you maron always behind bar and worship stone, how will your brain develop..first try to become good hindu then you can point muslim.
In most of the masjids having seperate place for woman also... better at least provide seperate way for hindu woman in temples to avoid mingling .... above judgement is on internal issue of hindu custom issue , why dragging muslims to it ?
According to North states' people and BJP people, there is a chance of flood again in Kerala, becuase SC challenged GOD. Those north state fools said that Kerala Flood was aftermath of Sabarimala verdict. Even RBI official backs the statement
Actually 99 percent of women in Kerala following the rule. They are waiting for their turn. Its like hajj. You people wont understand that. Some fools filed petition in order to destroy Hindu religious customs and traditions and muslim lawyer advocated for that. Now everything perished
Silly issue got more hype.
All bloody activists wants to destroy Hindu religion thats it. They won't raise voice against inequalities in Islam. They won't question their customs.
So called activitsts not protesting against inequalities among muslims. Why muslim girls cant enter in to mosque for offering namaz. Why they have seperate one.
Gender equality won
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