“Trick google, find truth…” Shashi Tharoor after Kerala CM P Vijayan doubts Congress’ stand on CAA

Summary

In this passionate speech, the speaker critiques the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), arguing that it unconstitutionally introduces religious criteria into citizenship, undermining India's secular foundation. They recount their active opposition to the CAA, including addressing protests and engaging with affected communities. The speaker emphasizes the historical context of India's freedom struggle, asserting that citizenship should not be determined by religion. They express frustration with the Communist Party of India for their perceived hypocrisy and dishonesty regarding the issue, positioning themselves and their party as defenders of equal citizenship for all Indians, regardless of religion.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker strongly opposes the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), viewing it as unconstitutional and discriminatory.
• 😀 They emphasize that citizenship should not be determined by religion, advocating for equality among all citizens.
• 😀 The speaker was a prominent figure in the protests at Shaheen Bagh, being the first politician to address the grandmothers there.
• 😀 They recall India's historical leaders who believed in an inclusive nation, rejecting the idea of defining nationality by religion.
• 😀 The speaker criticizes the Communist Party for distorting facts about their stance on the CAA and for politically exploiting the situation.
• 😀 They point out that the Congress Party has consistently opposed the CAA and has a long history of advocating for free citizenship for all Indians.
• 😀 The speaker highlights their active participation in multiple protest meetings organized by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee.
• 😀 They describe the CAA as a shameful injection of religious reference into citizenship law, particularly singling out one community.
• 😀 The speaker argues that the Communist Party's minimal contribution to the freedom struggle makes their current claims on citizenship disingenuous.
• 😀 They call for accountability and honesty in political discourse regarding citizenship and the legacy of the freedom struggle.

Q & A

What is the main argument against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) presented in the transcript?

The speaker argues that the CAA is unconstitutional because it introduces a religious criterion for citizenship, which violates Article 14 of the Indian Constitution that guarantees equality before the law.

How does the speaker describe their involvement with the protests against the CAA?

The speaker states they were the first politician to visit Shaheen Bagh and address the grandmothers protesting there, highlighting their active participation in the opposition to the CAA.

What historical context does the speaker provide regarding the partition of India?

The speaker refers to the partition being based on the idea that nationality was determined by religion, contrasting this with the freedom struggle leaders' stance that religion should not determine nationhood.

How does the speaker view the role of the Communist Party of India (CPI) during the freedom struggle?

The speaker criticizes the CPI for their minimal contribution to the freedom struggle and suggests they are dishonestly trying to reap the benefits of that struggle in the present political landscape.

What specific actions did the Congress Party take against the CAA, according to the speaker?

The Congress Party organized protest meetings in all 14 districts of Kerala and the speaker served as the inaugural speaker at several of these events, showcasing their consistent opposition to the CAA.

What does the speaker imply about the political motives of the CPI in their opposition to the CAA?

The speaker suggests that the CPI is using lies and distortions in their political discourse to gain leverage against the Congress Party, implying a lack of integrity in their approach.

What does the speaker believe about the inclusion of religion in citizenship laws?

The speaker finds it shameful to inject religious criteria into citizenship laws, arguing that it undermines the principles of a secular and inclusive nation.

Which universities did the speaker mention they addressed regarding the CAA?

The speaker mentioned addressing students at Jamia Millia Islamia University and Jawaharlal Nehru University, indicating their engagement with academic communities on this issue.

How does the speaker characterize the response to the CAA in Kerala?

The speaker describes an uproar in Kerala over the CAA, where political parties compete to oppose it, reflecting the state's strong commitment to pluralism and secular politics.

What foundational principle of the Indian Constitution does the speaker emphasize?

The speaker emphasizes that citizenship should be based on equality and should not be influenced by caste, religion, language, or place of birth, as stated in the Constitution.