Chandigarh, December 20, 2019 (Yes Punjab News)
It was an emotional moment for as many as 1500 refugee families of Punjab, who are residing in Punjab from past over decades but denied benefit of equal rights, when their representatives came in support Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), which is now Citizenship Amendment Act, to appreciate Indian Government’s efforts to fulfil their dream of being called ‘Indians’ .
The group of families was welcomed by the former Union Minister Vijay Sampla along with Vineet Joshi, former media advisor to Punjab Chief Minister, at Chandigarh today. “The gathering of these families is a strong message to those people who are spreading rumors on the name of the CAB and NRC. I challenge these hooligans to come here and listen to what atrocities these families have faced in past.
The BJP lead government has made simple amendments in the already existing bill. No educated person, knowing the basis of this act, would support such kind of protest taking place in many cities,” said Sampla. He further added, “I request the students of colleges and universities to come forward and learn about this act.
Religion has nothing to do with this act and I must stress that no Indian from any religion would be affected under this act. There is no violation of Article 15 or 21. I don’t know for what reason these protest are taking place.”
He also took on Punjab Chief Minster Amarinder Singh‘s take on not implementing the CAB in the state. “I think, he needs to understand the constitution and its amended laws. It’s not the first time that some amendments were made. He must have forgotten that it was Congress who brought it in 1972 and since then trying to get it amended. The BJP government has provided the relief to the people affected and the Congress government cannot accept this simple fact.”
Meanwhile, one of the senior members of the family Daya Lal came forward to thank the Modi government. “It’s been over 20 years since I came to India. I was 10 when my father came from Pakistan frontier.
Our brothers, family members were killed and many of our sisters were taken away. We have been struggling to get Indian citizenship despite making our living here. We have asked to make certificates after every six months, our kids faces problem in getting admissions.
We are around 300 families based in Jalandhar and nearby areas who have wandered from pillar to post to get a deserving status here. We do naamaz, read guru Granth sabhib and go to temples— this I am telling because we are not from particular religion,” said Lal.
Sundar Lal, Rajesh Kumar, Kasturi Lal, Sagar and Kesar Lal were the among others who reached in Chandigarh along with their family members. “The protest happening across India is due all driven by political parties who did not know what we faced.
There is not a single case of violence in Malerkotla or Qadian, where we have majority of Muslim brothers. The protest is Delhi is must be taken by wahabis who were responsible for the people’s life in Pakistan, in Kashmir and now trying to spread the fire in India.
We have came here after facing atrocities and instead of supporting they are opposing this bill and government who gave us a shed and now dignity to live in our country,” said Sundar.
