With the Kerala Assembly elections approaching, veteran Congress leader K.C. Joseph has called for the immediate withdrawal of the proposed Nativity Card Bill by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Joseph expressed concerns about the potential long-term consequences for Keralites within and outside the state due to the Cabinet’s decision to grant legal validity to the Nativity Card without thorough deliberation.
Joseph emphasized that Kerala is a constituent state of India and cautioned against any move that could create a separate identity framework. He likened the proposed Nativity Card to the historical argument of “independent Travancore” put forth by Sir Chetput Pattabhiraman Ramaswamy Iyer.
The government’s plan to introduce the Bill in the Assembly on February 24, have it examined by a subject committee the same day, and pass it the following day without substantial debate raised questions for Joseph. He queried the necessity of the Nativity Card when citizens already possess various identity documents like Aadhaar, Electoral ID, PAN cards, passports, and driving licenses.
Expressing further apprehension, Joseph warned that the implementation of a Nativity Card system by other states could lead to potential discrimination against Malayalis living outside Kerala, affecting their opportunities for jobs, education, and welfare benefits. He highlighted the complexity this could introduce to nearly 50 lakh Malayalis residing outside the state, including a significant population in the Middle East countries.
Joseph argued that the proposed Nativity Card may not offer significant practical value as most Keralites already hold recognized identity documents. He raised concerns about the legal and administrative complications that could arise from introducing such a measure on the eve of elections, labeling it as unethical and lacking public support. He urged the government to reconsider and withdraw the proposal.
