No Muslim will Lose Anything or be Harassed: Former Asom Sahitya Sabha President Kanak Sen Deka

Guwahati, 26 December, 2019:

Former Asom Sahitya Sabha President, Kanak Sen Deka on Thursday stated "No Muslim will lose anything, or harrassed or will be persecuted". He was speaking on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act that has been one of the major issues in Assam.

While speaking with Inside Northeast, Deka said, “This is a communal law. But whether it’s true or not, there are different-different opinions. It has been said that particularly Muslim people are not getting proper place in this law but what they have lost. The question is what have they lost?”

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When asked about his opinion on the incendiary CAA, he said, “Only the victims of a few states, including Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and all those who belong to the religious minority group, if they are persecuted, will be given citizenship in India if they stay at least for five years in this country. It is also up to December 31, 2014 and not after that. That’s why I do not think that there’s anything wrong in this law."

Deka added, “There is no scope to be harassed and only the minority religious people those who are persecuted in these three countries they will be given citizenship here if they stay for five years. It is not true the Muslims or other people will not get citizenship here. They shall have to stay in India for 11 years and then they can also apply for citizenship.”

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The noted intellectual diplomatically stated that the protests that have been taking place across the nation to oppose C(A)A is the right of the people. “When the government is going to register something, the people have got the right to criticize. And on the other hand, they have also the right to support. One can criticize the law or the legislature or they can go against also. Everything is right."

Deka reassured, “Definitely within a short time, the problem will be solved.” When asked him about retired Chief Justice Rajan Gogoi's silence on the Bill-turned-act, Kanak Sen Deka replied, “He (Ranjan Gogoi) has nothing to do with the legislation that was in the Parliament and the State Legislative. Why should he be critical about C(A)A when he’s a retired judge?”

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Deka said a retired judge cannot go to public and utter anything for or against as he must maintain some formalities. There are so many restrictions, whether he is court or is in retirement. As such a retired judge has no authority or right to comment in such cases in public places. He must be silent. “He cannot go and comment on the activities of the government. That’s why he’s silent.

Akhil Gogoi, Jiten Dutta, Sringkhal Chaliya's arrest among the others is a question of law and order.” Deka remarked. He informed that if they (protesters) violate the law of the country, definitely they will get punishment as per their activities. One can go against the government but one cannot go against the state.

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