Words Matter

The recent opposition in India for The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 No. 47 of 2019 issued on 12th December 2019 generated few thoughts.

It will be immensely satisfying to know how many have downloaded and read the amendment in the gazette. Especially celebrities / students who are against / supporting it.

If it is checked, majority would have not read it.

It is worth remembering that  "Words are free. It's how you use them that may cost you." -KushandWizdom.

The changes issued in the Gazette is as follows:

"Provided that any person belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian community from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan, who entered into India on or before the 31st day of December, 2014 and who has been exempted by the Central Government by or under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 or from the application of the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 or any rule or order made thereunder, shall not be treated as illegal migrant for the purposes of this Act;".

Just a thought, if the words would have replaced with the following (bold, italics, blue) in the Gazette would there have been an understanding of what it is currently understood:

"Provided that any person belonging to minority community from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan, who entered into India on or before the 31st day of December, 2014 and who has been exempted by the Central Government by or under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 or from the application of the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 or any rule or order made thereunder, shall not be treated as illegal migrant for the purposes of this Act;".

"Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder." -Rumi

It is better not to become a pawn in the hands of political parities.

Few questions to political parties:

1. Will all of the protesters / supporters especially students will get a cabinet berth if either side wins

2. If the State Governments which is supporting violent protesters by not taking action against them for destroying public property are signalling what their actions speak about their thoughts

3. As stated above how many political party members have downloaded the gazette and read it

"All I need is a sheet of paper and something to write with, and then I can turn the world upside down." -Friedrich Nietzsche

Would recommend to watch interesting scene from the movie Ankhon Dekhi (2014) directed by Rajat Kapoor. Start from 3:20 to 6:15 :