INDORE: Pakistan-born Canadian author Tarek Fateh on Monday blamed Pakistan’s ISI for disturbing peace in India over Citizen Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Fateh — who is in Indore for a literature festival — believes the Narendra Modi government will soon ring in universal civil code after removing Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, starting construction of Ram temple and introducing CAA.

“Pakistan’s ISI has presence in every major Indian city. They have their ‘natural fifth column’ here in India, who don’t say ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, don’t stand up for National Anthem, are into goondaism. They are trying to disturb peace,” Fateh told TOI at Indore, adding: “You (Indians) have to fight back and ‘undo’ Pakistan as until this country is there, Hindustan will face problems.”

On CAA, Fateh advocated for India to become a ‘Hindu Rashtra’. “If India does not turn into ‘Hindu Rashtra’, which country will?” asked the author, adding that “a Hindu is every person, who takes ownership of Hindustan’s history and tradition.”

“People here need to distinguish between chauvinism and nationalism. They should put United Nation’s declarations of universal human rights above all,” Fateh said.

Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen, who is also attending the festival, refused to comment on CAA or NRC. “I can’t talk about, but I can tell you that when Hindus are oppressed in Bangladesh and when Christians are oppressed in Pakistan, I defend them. Whenever people are oppressed because of their religion, gender, caste and race, I defend them,” Taslima told TOI.

“I am living in India and will always choose to stay here, if allowed. Because it has many similarities with my country, Bangladesh,” said the author, adding that if allowed, she would love to return to her country.

Transgender rights activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi believes the BJP-led Centre should work with all opposition parties to “end the state of confusion on CAA”.

“If any act destroys Ganga-Yamuna Tehzib of this country, then I am against it. If our home minister and Prime Minister have failed to persuade all opposition parties (over CAA), I request them to call an all-party meeting and bring clarity on both CAA and NRC,” Tripathi told TOI.

