Pak – Occupied Kashmir the next big move after CAA
The first big move with respect of Partition follies was the abolishing of temporary article 370 of the Constitution. Simultaneously the next big move was bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir into two Union territories of J&K and Ladakh, Of course the Gilgit Baltistan under Paki occupation being the third UT.
So no wonder, once again while speaking at India Today Conclave 2024, Amit Shah has reiterated the government’s position that Pakistan Occupied Kashmir is a part of India and so are the people living there, be they Hindus or Muslims.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in his first remarks on the Citizenship Amendment Act since its implementation, said that both “Muslims and Hindus of Pakistan occupied Kashmir are our own”.
The CAA, will enable non-Muslim communities persecuted on religious grounds since 1947 in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to acquire citizenship in India. The CAA was passed by Parliament only in December 2019 and implemented on March 11 this year by the Central Govt.
“Wahan ke Muslims bhi hamare hain, wahan ke Hindus bhi hamare hain (both Muslims and Hindus of POK are ours),” Amit Shah said.
When asked why Muslims were not included in the CAA, Amit Shah said the three neighbours in question are Islamic countries. Those asking such questions forget that Partition was on basis of religion and not any political ideology or on grounds of being pro British or anti British.
“At the time of Independence, there were 23 per cent of Hindus in Pakistan. Today, they form just 2.7 per cent of the population. Where did they go? What happened to them? I will tell you…minor girls were forced into marriage for religious conversion, they faced atrocities. They took refuge in India to save the modesty of their mothers. Why should we not give them nationality?” Amit Shah asked.
“The three countries (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh) which we have included in the CAA are declared Islamic countries, so where will they (persecuted minorities) go,” the Union Home Minister said.
As it is provision exists to grant asylum to any one prosecuted anywhere on political grounds ( irrespective of religion ), when sought through laid down procedure.
Under the CAA rules, the persecuted minorities who entered the borders legally or illegally before December 31, 2014, and have stayed in the country for at least five years are eligible for Indian citizenship. The minorities include Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Christian and Parsi immigrants from the aforesaid three neighbouring countries.
Amit Shah said that policies and “big decisions” like the CAA do not come into force by taking into account a couple of instances. He said that such policies are drafted to redress and find solutions to major problems.
“If any other communities like Baloch approach us in future, we will think about it. But why should we neglect the existing ordeal of persecuted people?” Amit Shah said.
Amit Shah also denied any link between the CAA notification and the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, saying that the CAA had always been a part of the ruling BJP’s agenda.
“India’s promise since 1950 was not realised by Congress. But it was the BJP that fulfilled the promise (of CAA),” he said.
