A delegation of concerned citizens met the Hon’ble President of India on 24th January at Rashtrapati Bhavan and submitted a Representation to him, signed by 154 distinguished personages. The delegation of ten people was led by Justice Parmod Kohli, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Sikkim and former Chairman CAT. The list of concerned citizens who appended their signatures to the Representation comprised 11 former Judges, 72 retired bureaucrats, 56 retired officers from the Armed Forces and 15 intellectuals.
In the interaction at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the delegation members apprised the Hon’ble President of their concerns with respect to the violence unleashed in some parts of the country against the CAA. While protesting against the government is a healthy aspect of democracy, resorting to violence, destroying public property and obstructing other citizens from going about their daily work was mobocracy. An Act passed by Parliament is the will of the people of India and cannot be challenged on the streets by mobs. In any case, the validity or otherwise of the CAA is being taken up for hearing by the Apex Court and the issue is sub-judice. Such acts of vandalism inject fear into society, hinder India’s economic growth, and have dangerous portents for the well being and security of the nation.
The President gave the delegation a patient hearing. Post the meeting with the President, the ten member delegation briefed a large contingent which was waiting outside on the discussions which took place with the President. A copy of the Representation submitted to the Hon’ble President of India was also given to the media personnel along with a list of 154 persons who had signed the same.