The proclaimer of the world’s largest democracy and secular state, India has left no stone unturned in negating her own proclamation. Recently, the lower house in India passed a controversial citizenship act, widening the narrative of anti-secularism.
The infamous bill was named as “Citizenship Amendment Bill” (CAB). The act allows Pakistani Bangladeshi and Afghani non-Muslims to have Indian citizenship.
Source: Twitter
The Notorious Bill
Home Minister Amit Shah presented the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in India’s lower house. However, the opposition protested against the notorious bill.
Amit Shah alleged, “In these three countries, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis and Christians, followers of these six religions have been tormented.”
Factually, the bill was first suggested in 2016 but halted after protests of opposition and allies of BJP. This time, owing to the majority, the BJP preceded the “Citizenship Amendment Bill” (CAB).
Moreover, in favor of the bill, PM Modi linked it to Indian’s humanitarian values. He said, “This bill is in line with India’s centuries-old ethos of assimilation and belief in humanitarian values.”
Reportedly, with 311 votes in support and 80 against, the Citizenship Amendment Bill passed in the lower house. However, in the upper house, the BJP has no majority, which makes it difficult to pass in the upper house.
The secularity of India
The RSS driven BJP government is cornering Muslims across India; the bill is the testimony itself. In his UN speech, Prime Minister Imran Khan talked about the RSS narrative and assaults on Muslims in Indian. “It is an organization inspired by Hitler and Mussolini. They believe in racial purity and superiority. They believe they are an Aryan race.”
He added, “They believe in the ethnic cleansing of Muslims. They believe a golden age of Hindu rule was stopped by Muslims and then the British occupation.”
Source: Parhlo
The bill actually proved what Imran khan asserted in the United Nations. Moreover, it also strengthens the Pakistani record on genocide in Kashmir by the Indian forces.
Besides, the Indian government has caused immense damage to Muslims around the Indian. Be it, the coerced annexation of Kashmir or banning of cow slaughter, BJP is marginalizing Muslims in India.
BJP is wreaking havoc on India. Furthermore, the Nehruvian ideology of India is shattered. First, the revocation of article 370, and 35A and now the catastrophic bill is leading India into the abyss of doom.
Sadly, the Human Rights organizations and International watchdogs are reticent about the current racial policies of BJP. Primarily, the economic trade between India and the world is forcing flag bearers of humanity to ‘keep silence’. The racial discrimination against Muslims is evident from the “Citizenship Amendment Bill” (CAB).
The opposition parties in India along with civil society heavily protested against the bill. However, nothing happened in the case of Kashmir and nothing will happen now. BJP will do what it ought to do!
The Indian Side
Moreover, not only Pakistan but many in India are rebuking the BJP. Senior journalist Barkha Dutt wrote on her Twitter, “Why Jinnah must be smiling from his grave. The day India cast itself In Pakistan’s image.” She went vigorously against the bill in her articles and interviews.
Why Jinnah must be smiling from his grave. The day India cast itself In Pakistan's image. My take on the #CABBill and the #NRC in @washingtonpost https://t.co/DoXKP4WH49
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) December 10, 2019
Additionally, the famous politician and writer, Shashi Tharoor said the bill “infringes upon the principle of equality before the law”.
Source: India today
Additionally, The leader of the Congress, Rahul Gandhi also expressed his views regarding the controversial bill. He said, “the CAB is an attempt by Modi-Shah Govt to ethnically cleanse the North East. It is a criminal attack on the North East, their way of life and the idea of India. I stand in solidarity with the people of the North East and am at their service.”
Pakistan and CAD
Being a key player in South Asia, Pakistan has a pivotal chance to support her arguments against India. The CAD bill can be brought into the UN as proof of racial discrimination against Muslims. This would spur the cause of Kashmir.
Imran Khan condemned the bill. He said, “violates all norms of international human rights law and bilateral agreements with Pakistan”.
We strongly condemn Indian Lok Sabha citizenship legislation which violates all norms of int human rights law & bilateral agreements with Pak. It is part of the RSS "Hindu Rashtra" design of expansionism propagated by the fascist Modi Govt. https://t.co/XkRdBiSp3G
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 10, 2019
Besides, the Foreign Office of Pakistan also condemned the bill. However, condemning is not the solution Pakistan needs to limelight the issue in the OIC. As the bill is concerned with Muslims, what can be better than the OIC? Furthermore, SAARC is also an effective forum although India dominates it.
To conclude, BJP itself is ruining the ideology of democratic and secular India. Temporarily, it is damaging for the Muslims but in the long run, it will extend the Pakistani narrative against India. The secularity of India is a hoax, which BJP uses in international forums to evade its racial policies.
