NEW DELHI: India’s controversial law on citizenship is causing the secular country a global embarrassment as it continues to call itself the world’s largest democracy.

The controversial act on citizenship had lead to nationwide riots, dozens of deaths and the arrest of hundreds of people across India. But why what is al the noise about? Let us break it down for you.

What is the controversial citizenship law?

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 was adopted by the Parliament of India on 11 December 2019, amending the 1955 Citizenship Act by creating a route to Indian citizenship for representatives of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian religious minorities who had escaped persecution before December 2014 from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. However, the act did not give Muslims such a residency status. The act was the first example of religion being openly used under Indian nationality law as a criterion for citizenship.

Indian opposition’s reaction to Citizenship law:

Opposition parties in India strongly condemned the act and said that the law is biased as it discriminates against the 1.3 billion Muslim citizens of the secular country. Muslims make up about 15 percent of the Indian population. Critics further argue the right to citizenship based on religion contradicts the secular values of India’s constitution.

Seven months after Modi swept to a second term, the law has stoked accusations at home and abroad that he wants to reshape India as a Hindu nation, which he denies. From the past many days the demonstration is going on against the citizenship act. Bollywood celebrities also came out and spoke about the matter strongly condemning the CAA. Actor Sushant Singh was one of the few to partake in the protests himself. Recently, one of the protests by students of Jamia Millia Islamia University took a dark turn when the police used violence and excessive force against the protesters.

https://twitter.com/sayanigupta/status/1206302403839946753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1206302403839946753&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwordpress-1565601-6085051.cloudwaysapps.com%2Findian-movie-stars-speak-about-indian-citizenship-act%2F

As a parent and a citizen of india , I am deeply saddened by the unrest across various educational institutions of our country. I hope and pray for peace to return as soon as possible. Great teachers learn from their students. I salute the worlds youngest democracy.

— Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) December 18, 2019

If this is what’s gonna happen everytime a citizen expresses their view, forget #CAB, we should pass a bill and not call our country a democracy anymore! Beating up innocent human beings for speaking their mind? BARBARIC.

— Parineeti Chopra (@ParineetiChopra) December 17, 2019

My mother is a Hindu, my biological father was a Christian, my adopted father – a Muslim. In all official documents, my religion status stays blank. Does religion determine I am an Indian? It never did and I hope it never does. #OneIndia #India

— Dia Mirza (@deespeak) December 18, 2019

What is the Hindutva ideology?

The aim of Hindutva is to increase India’s borders and make it a non-secular India. According to them, in the areas that the Indian government controls, there should only be Bharmin Hindus.

The biggest problem of Hindutva thinking is that they do not consider the Hindus other than Brahmins as human beings, whereas every minority living in India, including Muslims, are against their thinking in this regard.

Last year on November 14, Prime Minister Imran Khan said RSS ideology in India is a threat to Muslims and other minorities.

He has urged the international powers to step in to avoid any serious situation in South Asia as the Modi regime is following the ideology of hatred in the region. He further said, “We are now stuck in a situation where an extremist ideology has taken over lives of 1.3 billion people.”

Jammu and Kashmir link to protesters?

How do Jammu and Kashmir have to do with the protesters participating in a nationwide protest against India’s controversial law, Why do they talk about Kashmir’s independence?

In fact, the struggle of Kashmiri leaders in the occupied valley is a symbol against Modi’s Hindutva government. While On the 176th consecutive day, the curfew and communications blockade in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) continues to be cut off from the rest of the world.

There is a shortage of food and medicines, while heavy snowfall has multiplied the miseries of the helpless Kashmiri people. Since August 5, by revoking the special status of occupied Kashmir, the Indian government has put a curfew in IoK.

While you can’t understand the pain of a prisoner unless you are a prisoner. Unless the controversial law was imposed on Indian Muslims and Hindutva opponents, they were not sure of the suffering of the oppressed Kashmiris.

What should the Internation community do?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the master of the worst and outdated thinking that wants to bring the stone age back to the 21st century. There is a need that the international community must control it.

The European Union members took a positive step as it has drafted a resolution against India’s controversial citizenship law.

Perhaps the Modi government will take some sensible nails from the EU, but the situation may improve if the international community takes more serious efforts in this regard.

It is being hoped that after the resolution, some practical steps will be taken against the controversial citizenship law as the protests in Narendra Modi’s government are enough to make the world release the actual situation.

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Why is the CAA causing an uproar in India?