India's New Citizenship Bill Sparks Debate Over Exclusion of Muslims
India's recent announcement of rules to implement a contentious citizenship bill has sparked debate as it excludes Muslims from its provisions.
India has unveiled rules that would pave the way for the enforcement of a contentious citizenship bill that does not include Muslims.
The announcement of the rules was made by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday, just before the upcoming general election in the spring, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be vying for a third term in office.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act offers a quicker path to citizenship for immigrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, as long as they are not Muslim. This law is meant to help religious minorities who have faced persecution based on their beliefs, such as Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians.
This bill was first approved by India's parliament in 2019, but it could not be implemented until the necessary rules were announced.
Despite receiving praise from Prime Minister Modi, who is a Hindu nationalist, the bill faced strong opposition from other political parties. They argued that the bill was against the constitution and would marginalize India's 200-million Muslim community.
On Monday evening, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah commended Modi for fulfilling another promise. He stated in a post on X that the bill was in line with the constitution's commitment to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians residing in certain countries.
Members of the United Opposition Forum protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in Nagaon District, Assam, India, on March 8, 2024.
Members of the United Opposition Forum protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in Nagaon District, Assam, India, on March 8, 2024.
Critics are concerned that the bill is yet another instance of Modi and the BJP promoting Hindu nationalism in a secular India with a population of 1.3 billion, often at the cost of the Muslim community.
The BJP traces its origins to India's Hindu right-wing movement, with many supporters believing in the idea of India as a Hindu nation.
Critics argue that since Modi came into power almost ten years ago, the inclusive and democratic principles on which the world's largest democracy was founded are eroding rapidly. Minorities feel marginalized under the BJP's policies favoring the majority, and dissent against the government is met with censorship and reprisal.
A month after the demolition of two mosques in Uttarakhand state and Delhi, which led to clashes and local curfews, a significant event took place.
In January, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated a large Hindu temple at the site of a 16th-century mosque that was destroyed by Hindu hardliners over 30 years ago. The opening of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya was a cause for celebration for many Hindus, but it also served as a painful reminder to the country's minority Muslim population of the religious tensions that have intensified during Modi's tenure.
Editor's P/S:
The Citizenship (Amendment)
