Be cautious of forces opposing CAA: Lt Gen R R Nimbhorkar
   Date :10-Feb-2020

Be cautious of forces opp
 Lt Gen (Retd.) Rajendra Nimbhokar explaining ramifications of opposition to CAA and NRC during a talk organised by Manthan. (Pic by Satish Raut)
 
Staff Reporter :
 
“No Muslim majority country is having democracy. Hence, Indians must be cautious of the forces opposing Constitutional Amendment Act (CAA) as it is their future that is at stake,” said Lt Gen (Retd.) Rajendra Nimbhorkar. He was delivering a lecture organised by Manthan at Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh auditorium on Sunday. Expressing concern over wrong interpretations of the CAA, he said, “The misinterpretation is disparaging to Parliament, the supreme body in democracy.”
 
Explaining the CAA, National Register of Citizens (NRC) in layman’s terms, the veteran Armyman said, “People are being mislead whereas far more sweeping changes were made to the Constitution in the past and not a whimper of protest appeared anywhere. CAA is nothing but a bill to regulate process of granting citizenship to refugees, many of them living in abysmal conditions for last 73 years in various parts of the country.” As to his role in shedding light on the two topics, Lt Gen Nimbhorkar said, “An Armyman is bound by oath to work for nation till his last breath.” Since situation came to such a pass, he felt duty-bound to inform citizens about dangerous game plan on in the country.
 
Terming the opposition of CAA divisive, he cited an example of Bangladesh that opposed entry to Rohingyas who fled Myanmar. “Now, why would a Muslim majority country deny entry to their own brethren, the refugees are housed in two big camps. So, if India has excluded Muslims refugees from process of naturalisation process what wrong has it committed,” said Lt Gen Nimbhorkar while defending the Central Government on CAA. “So one was surprised when candle marches were taken out in Delhi demanding rehabilitation of Rohingyas in country.
 
There seems to sinister campaign in country that directly threatens the Indian interest. Nowhere in world do we see such kind of demonstrations in favor of Rohingyas, but only in India,” he said. Recalling his active days in Army, Lt Nimbhorkar warned of implication of creation of Pan Islamic nation by doubling the population of Muslims.
 
“The Central Government should stick to its manifesto and enforce strict norms so that spiralling population can be controlled and national interest are not compromised,” he opined. Claiming to have a seen a map in Bangladesh library that marked area around Barhmaputra, in West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh by ensuring minority population there gets into majority, though Lt Gen Nimbhokar added quickly as to not having any concrete proof, but if that map is real then serious trouble is brewing for India. The fear among citizens about providing citizenship credentials are uncalled for as even in remotest areas of country, at Melghat and in Gadchiroli population has Aadhaar cards knowing well its advantage accruing to them, he said and added, “So these fears being spread to oppose CAA and NRC are figment of imagination and citizens instead should focus on their national interest first.”