My recent Facebook posts about Citizenship Amendment Act critical of violent protests and misinformation but supportive of right to peaceful protest
Given below are contents of my recent Facebook posts on this matter:
https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2693001267583100
The tragic thing about some Indian protests is the destruction of public services' property e.g. public transport - buses and railway stations. Who suffers due to that? The needy sections of the public who depend on such services of ***subsidized*** public transport, and cannot afford more expensive private services.
This has been the case for decades - it is not a new thing.
Here is a tweet from Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev giving his view on this matter: "Whatever the issue, no one has any right to destroy public property. Buses that you burn do not belong to Government but to people funded by our tax money. All who destroy public property their properties must be confiscated and costs recovered. -Sg #CAAProtest", https://twitter.com/SadhguruJV/status/1207167085979127808.
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https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2693129987570228
Good to see this letter dated 17th Dec (yesterday) from vice-chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Prof. Tariq Mansoor, giving his valuable views of what happened. The letter is addressed to "Students, Parents, Teachers and Alig Community". He writes that permission was provided to students to protest peacefully in AMU campus against the Citizenship Amendment Act, and that I think was good of him. Peaceful protests are a right of Indian citizens including adult students of a university.
An extract (auto convert of image to text) of his letter is given below:
However, on the evening of 15 December, there was widespread circulation of fake news on social media of death of 2 students of Jamia Millie Islamic in police firing. Taking advantage of this sensitive situation, anti-social/lumpen elements (including expelled ex-students) intermingled with students, and forcibly broke open the Bab-e-Syed gate of the university. After crossing the university boundary, they resorted to stone pelting on the police outside the campus. This mob, running into thousands, posed imminent danger to the life of students and the property of the university. Forced with this grave situation, the university administration was left with no other choice but to call the police to control the situation. Pre-empting all attempts posing a threat to the lives of students and safeguarding the University property is the foremost duty of the university administration. On several occasions in the past, lack of timely pre-emptive action has led to death to innocent students and severe damage to the university property including burning down of official residence of Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Proctor's office and Staff Club.
Of the 27 detentions made by the police, only 7 were university students. It is proof that anti-social and outside elements intermingled with the students and were hell bent on damaging the university property and jeopardizing the life and career of the bonafide students. Hence, the decision to call the police to prevent loss of lives was a timely and necessary step.
--- end extract ---
He also writes that allegations of police excesses will be inquired into. I support that - if the police went over the top to control the students, that should be shared with the public, and appropriate action taken if proven. However, it ***must be noted*** that the mob stone-pelted the police as per the vice-chancellor's letter itself. So the police would have had to use tough action against these violent attackers (and criminals, if proven in a court of law).
He then writes, "At the same time, we will ensure that no anti-social elements will be allowed to disturb the campus peace and jeopardize the career of the students." He adds later, "I request you all not to fall prey to smear campaigns and false propaganda on social media."
I am very encouraged to see such a fine letter from the vice-chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University. The letterhead states that he is a medical doctor (MS Surgery).
I think law-abiding citizens of India and the government should provide full support to this VC of AMU, Prof. Tariq Mansoor, to ensure that while (adult) students can exercise their right to protest peacefully against the (state or union) government, the university does not get hijacked by anti-social/lumpen elements to attack the police who do a vital service to society by enforcing law and order.
‘Had No Option But to Call Police,’ Says AMU VC Prof Tariq Mansoor, https://www.thequint.com/news/india/had-no-option-but-to-call-police-says-amu-vc-prof-tariq-mansoor
==================
https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2693161530900407
I have largely refrained from publicly commenting on the CAA as it deals with the super-sensitive topic of immigration, and I really don't know enough about the history of the immigrants (to India) that this act is aimed at (from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, if I recall correctly). Religious persecution in Indian subcontinent is a very sensitive topic and usually there is horrific violence and suffering involved in these cases.
Some opposition parties in India are dead against the CAA and have moved the Supreme Court against it. I think it is good that the Supreme Court will review the complaints of the opposition parties and others against the act (some opposition leaders are saying the act is unconstitutional). Supreme Court will give its judgement in due course, and I look forward to that judgement.
But I think there is a lot of misinformation that is being spread about CAA (including some very sensitive statements from Pakistani political leaders). So I decided to share this article where a Muslim leader of the BJP, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, clarifies that the CAA does not pose any threat to citizenship of any Indian Muslim.
So no Indian Muslim citizen needs to worry about CAA creating any problems for him/her, as per Naqvi and which I believe is the case going by reports I have read, but I have not read the act myself.
Indian Muslims have contributed greatly to India in the past, continue to do so now, and, I am sure, will continue to contribute to India in the future. Shirdi Sai Baba, who I revere as a spiritual master, outwardly wore the garb of a Muslim fakir and frequently said, "Allah Malik". He taught that God of Hindus and Muslims (and of people of other religions) is One - "Sabka Malik Ek".
I am sure that if the act threatens citizenship of any Indian Muslim, the Supreme Court will strike it down as unconstitutional. The constitution of India, as I understand it, provides for freedom of religion for (freedom to practise any religion to) all Indian citizens, including, of course, Muslim citizens of India. And that, as a resident and adult citizen of India, is something that I fully support.
Please note that I have a PUBLICLY POLITICALLY NEUTRAL role in these social media posts that I put up related to Indian political leaders which may include leaders in government currently and those not in government. I am an Indian citizen and resident of India. I do vote in Indian elections but I keep who I vote for as a private matter. I should also say that I am a beneficiary, a lover and an open supporter of democracy in India.
[Shared article: No threat to citizenship of any Indian Muslim or any other citizen under CAA: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/no-threat-to-citizenship-of-any-indian-muslim-or-any-other-citizen-under-caa-mukhtar-abbas-naqvi/articleshow/72869295.cms]
============
Readers may want to read my recent post on another blog: As an Indian Hindu, my heart goes out to Pakistani Hindus who have sought refuge in India from religious persecution in Pakistan, https://ravisiyer.blogspot.com/2019/12/as-indian-hindu-my-heart-goes-out-to.html.
https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2693001267583100
The tragic thing about some Indian protests is the destruction of public services' property e.g. public transport - buses and railway stations. Who suffers due to that? The needy sections of the public who depend on such services of ***subsidized*** public transport, and cannot afford more expensive private services.
This has been the case for decades - it is not a new thing.
Here is a tweet from Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev giving his view on this matter: "Whatever the issue, no one has any right to destroy public property. Buses that you burn do not belong to Government but to people funded by our tax money. All who destroy public property their properties must be confiscated and costs recovered. -Sg #CAAProtest", https://twitter.com/SadhguruJV/status/1207167085979127808.
================
https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2693129987570228
Good to see this letter dated 17th Dec (yesterday) from vice-chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Prof. Tariq Mansoor, giving his valuable views of what happened. The letter is addressed to "Students, Parents, Teachers and Alig Community". He writes that permission was provided to students to protest peacefully in AMU campus against the Citizenship Amendment Act, and that I think was good of him. Peaceful protests are a right of Indian citizens including adult students of a university.
An extract (auto convert of image to text) of his letter is given below:
However, on the evening of 15 December, there was widespread circulation of fake news on social media of death of 2 students of Jamia Millie Islamic in police firing. Taking advantage of this sensitive situation, anti-social/lumpen elements (including expelled ex-students) intermingled with students, and forcibly broke open the Bab-e-Syed gate of the university. After crossing the university boundary, they resorted to stone pelting on the police outside the campus. This mob, running into thousands, posed imminent danger to the life of students and the property of the university. Forced with this grave situation, the university administration was left with no other choice but to call the police to control the situation. Pre-empting all attempts posing a threat to the lives of students and safeguarding the University property is the foremost duty of the university administration. On several occasions in the past, lack of timely pre-emptive action has led to death to innocent students and severe damage to the university property including burning down of official residence of Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Proctor's office and Staff Club.
Of the 27 detentions made by the police, only 7 were university students. It is proof that anti-social and outside elements intermingled with the students and were hell bent on damaging the university property and jeopardizing the life and career of the bonafide students. Hence, the decision to call the police to prevent loss of lives was a timely and necessary step.
--- end extract ---
He also writes that allegations of police excesses will be inquired into. I support that - if the police went over the top to control the students, that should be shared with the public, and appropriate action taken if proven. However, it ***must be noted*** that the mob stone-pelted the police as per the vice-chancellor's letter itself. So the police would have had to use tough action against these violent attackers (and criminals, if proven in a court of law).
He then writes, "At the same time, we will ensure that no anti-social elements will be allowed to disturb the campus peace and jeopardize the career of the students." He adds later, "I request you all not to fall prey to smear campaigns and false propaganda on social media."
I am very encouraged to see such a fine letter from the vice-chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University. The letterhead states that he is a medical doctor (MS Surgery).
I think law-abiding citizens of India and the government should provide full support to this VC of AMU, Prof. Tariq Mansoor, to ensure that while (adult) students can exercise their right to protest peacefully against the (state or union) government, the university does not get hijacked by anti-social/lumpen elements to attack the police who do a vital service to society by enforcing law and order.
‘Had No Option But to Call Police,’ Says AMU VC Prof Tariq Mansoor, https://www.thequint.com/news/india/had-no-option-but-to-call-police-says-amu-vc-prof-tariq-mansoor
==================
https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2693161530900407
I have largely refrained from publicly commenting on the CAA as it deals with the super-sensitive topic of immigration, and I really don't know enough about the history of the immigrants (to India) that this act is aimed at (from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, if I recall correctly). Religious persecution in Indian subcontinent is a very sensitive topic and usually there is horrific violence and suffering involved in these cases.
Some opposition parties in India are dead against the CAA and have moved the Supreme Court against it. I think it is good that the Supreme Court will review the complaints of the opposition parties and others against the act (some opposition leaders are saying the act is unconstitutional). Supreme Court will give its judgement in due course, and I look forward to that judgement.
But I think there is a lot of misinformation that is being spread about CAA (including some very sensitive statements from Pakistani political leaders). So I decided to share this article where a Muslim leader of the BJP, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, clarifies that the CAA does not pose any threat to citizenship of any Indian Muslim.
So no Indian Muslim citizen needs to worry about CAA creating any problems for him/her, as per Naqvi and which I believe is the case going by reports I have read, but I have not read the act myself.
Indian Muslims have contributed greatly to India in the past, continue to do so now, and, I am sure, will continue to contribute to India in the future. Shirdi Sai Baba, who I revere as a spiritual master, outwardly wore the garb of a Muslim fakir and frequently said, "Allah Malik". He taught that God of Hindus and Muslims (and of people of other religions) is One - "Sabka Malik Ek".
I am sure that if the act threatens citizenship of any Indian Muslim, the Supreme Court will strike it down as unconstitutional. The constitution of India, as I understand it, provides for freedom of religion for (freedom to practise any religion to) all Indian citizens, including, of course, Muslim citizens of India. And that, as a resident and adult citizen of India, is something that I fully support.
Please note that I have a PUBLICLY POLITICALLY NEUTRAL role in these social media posts that I put up related to Indian political leaders which may include leaders in government currently and those not in government. I am an Indian citizen and resident of India. I do vote in Indian elections but I keep who I vote for as a private matter. I should also say that I am a beneficiary, a lover and an open supporter of democracy in India.
[Shared article: No threat to citizenship of any Indian Muslim or any other citizen under CAA: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/no-threat-to-citizenship-of-any-indian-muslim-or-any-other-citizen-under-caa-mukhtar-abbas-naqvi/articleshow/72869295.cms]
============
Readers may want to read my recent post on another blog: As an Indian Hindu, my heart goes out to Pakistani Hindus who have sought refuge in India from religious persecution in Pakistan, https://ravisiyer.blogspot.com/2019/12/as-indian-hindu-my-heart-goes-out-to.html.
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