Debate on Refugee Policy and Tradition

Whether or not to grant them asylum, from a humanitarian perspective,

is up to you.

In this context,

clan chiefs are invited to express their respective views.

Giving refugees shelter has been our tradition and in carrying on this tradition,

we also stand to gain. The future of the two nations

will also see the development of relations.

As for the humanitarian act of giving refuge to refugees,

I support it.

Stop talking about tradition and humanity.

We speak of humanity and tradition, and we are the ones who get

crushed.

If we heed clan chief Bhurigreeva, who speaks of developing relations between the two nations,

then the citizens of Takshashila should be sure

that very soon, Takshashila, too, will appear

broken into fragments and in ruins.

The foreigners you are talking about giving refuge to

will tomorrow claim a right to the land of Takshashila.

The humanism you invoke as you plan to give them refuge

will see the land of those very humanists turn red tomorrow with religious and caste

conflicts.

And no humanist on Earth

will stop the swords raised for those conflicts.

Tomorrow, these very refugees will sit with you at the Paud Assembly and influence

your decisions.

Do not taint traditions in the name of religion and caste,

Ripudaman.

Accept the truth, Bhurigriha. Where the future of Takshashila is at stake,

emotions have no place.

If we do not want to abandon our traditions, will they abandon theirs?

Tomorrow, these refugees will become an integral part of your kingdom

and, seated before you, demand their so-called rights.

Then your humanitarian heart, in taking up arms against them,

will feel hesitant.

Can the Paur Assembly assure me

that tomorrow Gandhara will not be divided because of the refugees?

Can any Paud assure me that these very refugees will return tomorrow to their

homeland?

Is the Paud Assembly itself confident

that, in the name of resettling refugees, the government will not impose new

tax burdens on the people of Takshashila?

Can the Speaker promise the citizens of Takshashila that

the government will not use the refugees in any way for political gain?

Decisions cannot be based on possibilities.

I will certainly see, when an Alexander attacks your

traditions, how you will defend your traditions?