"Legislation discriminates against Muslims": An amendment to the Indian Citizenship Act provokes a stir

As a result of legislation granting non-Muslim citizenship that illegally emigrated from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, a series of protests have broken out in the northeast. Protesters fear violation in the region, Indian opposition claims racist legislation discriminates against Muslims

"Legislation discriminates against Muslims": An amendment to the Indian Citizenship Act provokes a stir

Indian lawmakers in India today approved legislation granting non-Muslim citizenship that illegally migrated from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The legislation was approved despite ongoing protests against the move in the northeastern state. The bill passed in the upper house of Parliament, with a majority of 125 supporters against 105 opponents. The lower house approved the bill as early as Monday. Now the president of the state has to sign the law before it becomes official.

The amendment to the Citizenship Bill was introduced by the Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his election victory in the country in May. The amendment of the law grants Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Persians and Christians who emigrated to India from the three neighboring and Muslim states before December 31, 2014. Following the amendment of the law, millions of people are expected to receive Indian citizenship.

On the other hand, in the northeast India, many civilians are protesting, fearing that immigrants who have come to the country illegally will settle in the border area and affect the culture and character of the area. Anand Sharma, the leader of the main opposition party in Congress, said "the legislation is invalid because it discriminates against Muslims, despite constitutional guarantees of equal opportunities between all groups." The opposition blames Modi’s Hindu-national ruling party on anti-Islamism.

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Police fired rubber bullets and used tear gas. Protests in Guwahati City (Photo: Reuters)

Demonstrations in Northeast India following Amendment to Citizenship Law, December 11, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

Protesters burned tires and blocked highways and rail lines over the past week. In order to disperse the protests, police fired rubber bullets and used tear gas - the Indian Press Trust reports.

Mukash Agarwar, a senior police official, said a curfew had been imposed in the city of Guwahati in northeast India and that the army was nearby in case the violence escalated. Reportedly in India, the federal government has sent about 5,000 troops to the area.

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"The legislation discriminates against Muslims." Demonstrations in northeast India following amendment to citizenship law (Photo: Reuters)

Demonstrations in Northeast India following Amendment to Citizenship Law, December 11, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

Amit Shah, the minister who introduced the bill in the upper house of parliament, said the law is not anti-Muslim because it does not affect the existing way of citizenship, which is available to all communities. According to Shah, the law seeks to address the difficulties of Hindus and other minorities suffering persecution by the Muslim majority in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has criticized the bill, saying it runs counter to "India's rich history and Indian constitution, which include secular pluralism." The commission has asked for US sanctions against Minister Shah if the bill is approved. Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Rave Kumar said the US Commission's statement was "inaccurate and unjustified."

Demonstration against India's new citizenship law (Photo: AP)

Demonstration against New Citizenship Act in India December 11, 2019 (Photo: AP)