Hyderabad, March 12: The Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) Students Union has expressed its unequivocal opposition to implementing the discriminatory, unjust, and unconstitutional Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). While speaking to Radiance, Mateen Ashraf, President of MANUU Students Union, said that as a collective voice of students, we firmly stand for the principles of justice, equality, and secularism. “We reiterate our commitment to protecting the constitutional values that uphold the diversity and pluralism of our great nation.”
Mateen said, “The CAA, enacted in 2019, has been a subject of intense debate and concern nationwide. Our opposition to CAA under the Hindutva framework is rooted in our commitment to safeguarding the rights of every citizen, irrespective of their religious background. We believe any legislation that discriminates based on religion goes against the principles of equality and social justice.
“We have been opposing CAA not because we do not care about the persecution of minorities in neighboring countries but because we question the arbitrariness of this law. It not only promotes the Hindutva idea of citizenship but also specifically excludes Muslims, creating second-class citizenship for them. Citizenship can never be based on religion; thus, we call CAA discriminatory, unjust, and unconstitutional.”
Ashraf further said, “Hindutva, as an ideology, has been a source of contention for its potential to undermine the secular fabric of India. We firmly believe in preserving the secular ethos enshrined in the Constitution and we recognize the significance of maintaining a harmonious and inclusive society that celebrates diversity.”
The MANUU Students Union called upon the government to reconsider the implementation of the CAA and engage in a meaningful dialogue with stakeholders to address concerns and promote inclusivity. “In the spirit of democracy, we also encourage all people committed to justice and democracy to unite and raise their voices against these orchestrated attempts to fuel anti-Muslim communal polarization,” he added.
