Supreme Court lawyer Subuhi Khan while speaking to the YouTube channel Public Views India tore apart the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protesters while countering them using facts and logic.
A highlight of her interview was compiled and shared on twitter.
In the video Khan asserts that the violent protests don’t stem out of CAA opposition but are actually a result of their frustration against Article 370 abrogation, Ram Mandir judgement and Triple Talaq law.
She adds that no protests will take place if people read the law which merely provides a five year relief to the persecuted minorities, over and above the current citizenship procedure.
While indirectly attacking Muslims for protesting against the act, Khan said that while they are happy to take the privileges accorded to Indian minorities, but if other persecuted groups get the same rights it becomes un-constitutional.
She also slammed Islamic chants at anti-CAA meets and questioned their place in these protests. She added that by definition, they don’t even qualify to be called minorities given their numbers.
Taking on the protesting students, she expressed befuddlement over the creation of an army of illiterates in the country.
“Are these university students, they don’t even deserve to be called so. If you commit an illegal act, the police will come and take action wherever you are”, said Khan.
Khan then proceed to lay out facts of the matter.
“Two issues are going side by side, first is NRC – which will determine the legal citizens of the country. If one is not a legal citizen, the Indian constitution mentions the process to become one”.
“In India there are five ways by which you can become a citizen and even if you belong to any faith you can become one. The five ways are by birth, by descent (from parents), by registration through proper documents, by naturalisation and by incorporation of territory”.
“This CAA comes under naturalisation category. Herein if one resides in India for the past 11 years and continuously without leaving for one additional year, he or she can apply regardless of religion or sect. In CAA, the persecuted minorities have merely been provided a relief wherein they can apply for citizenship if they have stayed for just five years”.
Khan then questioned as to why such a furore is being created in the country for such a small relief which is not being provided on the basis of religion but on the basis of protecting the human rights of minorities.
She also slammed those claiming a violation of Article 14 (equality before law) via CAA and pointed out the reasonable classification clause which was used to provide minority status for Muslims who stayed back after 1947.
She added that Article 15 too is not being violated as there is no discrimination on the basis of religion involved as the act in itself does not pertain to religion.
She stressed that the law is not designed to target Muslims or any other group and appealed to people to go and actually read the act before protesting.