Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Jan 19: Former governor of Uttarakhand Margaret Alva on Sunday January 19 hit out against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) and said that she would not provide any documents to prove her citizenship.
"I will not provide any document for NRC, NPR or CAA process," Alva said, while participating in 'Samudayotsav 2020', a laity convention here.
"This is a country that believes in secularism. The Constitution has given us rights. Now the government is making efforts to take back those rights by changing the Constitution. NRC wants us to bring the birth certificates of our grandfathers and ancestors. This is applicable not only to Christians and Muslims, but to all Indians. I will not fill up any form to prove my citizenship, neither should you," she said.
"Was our Prime Minister or home minister Amit Shah a freedom fighter? Our PM's BA certificate is still not to be seen, and they are asking our uneducated people to bring certificates. Thousands of young students are on the streets. We Christians are regarded as a peaceful community. But Christ said, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's'. They have started to create difficulties in the lives of Christians," she added.
"Today the economy is in danger, universities are closed, banks are gong kaput, and PSUs are being sold. Nothing is reaching the poor. Where are acche din? Where is Rs 15 lac? All the crooks are being protected. This is a national battle for survival.
"There is plan to replace Mahatma Gandhi's favourite hymn 'Abide with me' with 'Vande Mataram'. On January 26 every church choir and public choir all over India should sing this hymn. This will be a fitting answer from the people. Today RSS cardres are visiting our doors wearing police uniforms, today minorities are being killed," Alva said.
"If they ask for my citizenship documents, I will tell them to check records of Arthur Road jail where the names of our ancestors are recorded as freedom fighters. In their speeches they (BJP leaders) have even said that they want a Christian minority-free nation. In Kanakapura, our people have given lands, and 800 families have contributed Rs 1 lac each to build a statue of Christ. They (BJP) say anyone's statue can be built in any place, but not of Christ," she added.
Former MLA J R Lobo said that the Christian community has several denominations and lacks unity. "The community is not united and when there is no unity, outsiders try to weaken the community. In some districts, Christians are regarded as lower caste. Hindu fundamental groups are trying to weaken the community," he said.
Calling children as assets of the community, he advised every Christian family to have at least 3 to 4 children. When we build people, this becomes a permanent contribution, he said.
Lobo also spoke 'jealousy' among community members that is affecting the community. “We do not support our own leaders. We are not happy when they become successful. We have no systematic plan for the new Christians, which would help them to be inclusive with us. If we treat them as separate, they will surely go back to their origin. This is a 'Ghar Wapsi',” he said
"Media is not supporting us. Lethargic attitude in political leadership has become a hindrance. A professional academy to train civil servant aspirants is the need of the hour. Many people who studied in Christian institutions pelted stones on our churches in Mangaluru. This means we have failed to deliver Christian values to the students of our institution. Youth are not interested in Church today. They are digressing away from human relationships," he added.