The protests against the CAA-NRC have had many salutary effects, but one thing that is consistently overstated is its effect on India’s domestic politics. For many who are singing revolutionary songs, it is tantalising to say this is the beginning of the end. But there is no evidence that the Narendra Modi government’s stand on citizenship is unpopular, barring certain states, or that the BJP is indeed losing support over it.
So far, the only successful outcome of the protests is the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi was forced to retreat on the rhetoric of a nationwide NRC. But even here, the government is still zealously holding on to the issue of “illegal immigration”, which looks like the next big ‘core issue’ of the Sangh Parivar, now to be pursued through the route of National Population Register (NPR).
The widespread protests will not be a turning point for the Modi-Amit Shah government until ‘ordinary Hindus’ join it in large numbers. The base of the CAA-NRC-NPR protests remains confined to the groups that were already opposed to the BJP government: the largest number has been provided by Muslims, along with liberal middle-class professionals, Leftists, and dissenting students.
The surprising participation is of a number of ‘apolitical’ (or politically passive) young people, who might have largely been silent over the past few years. Now, they are speaking out on social media, attending protests, and joining the camp of active, politically engaged dissenters. But even among these, only a handful, if that, would have voted for the BJP in 2019.
Also read: You can’t cancel Modi, RSS: Why US-style identity politics won’t help Indian liberals’ fight
BJP stand agreeable to Hindus
Outside metropolitan areas such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and outside of states such as West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, these have overwhelmingly been Muslim protests. In the cities of Uttar Pradesh, for instance, protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) have almost exclusively been led by Muslims. This is not ‘wrong’ given how it is Muslims who will be the most affected by the Islamophobic and discriminatory nature of the CAA. But it is debatable how effective these protests will be in altering the massive popularity that the BJP enjoys.
In the heartland states of the north and the west, which is the base of the BJP, it is likely that the ruling party’s positions on CAA, NRC and now NPR are indeed popular.
The headline of a report by The Indian Express’ Ravish Tiwari succinctly summarised the findings: “On the ground in Uttar Pradesh, protest divide along religion, not politics”. The report found that “across the constituencies of Baghpat, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Sambhal and Rampur, many Hindus who voted for Opposition parties during the Lok Sabha elections support the government’s citizenship move”. It stated that the “ruling establishment’s arguments against the protests and for the crackdown find resonance among Hindus in this region” including people from backward caste communities.
It is not hard to understand why. The BJP’s position ticks a lot of boxes that deeply resonate with Indians. First, a bottomless appetite for ‘cleaning up the country’ rhetoric, which was also the reason why demonetisation in 2016 proved so popular. Despite the havoc it wrecked in their daily lives, it was more than made up by resentment towards the “rich and the corrupt”. Second, the rhetoric of cleaning up India of the ‘outsiders’ taps into an equally strong resentment towards “illegal immigrants”, especially because it is invoked in terms of Muslims.
Also read: In 2020, don’t rely on routine rallies and marches. Modi’s India needs new ways to protest
Constitutionalism doesn’t sell
As the last five years have showed, arguments that PM Modi is violating the Constitution find little traction on the ground. Ordinary Indians don’t seem to particularly care about specific Articles of the Constitution, neither does adherence to constitutional principles makes for an emotionally captivating rhetoric. No matter what legal nit-picking the opposition does with nuanced arguments, Modi controls the narrative.
On the other hand, there are emotionally incendiary visuals, both real and doctored, of ‘rioting Muslims’ from small towns of Uttar Pradesh. These visuals are being, and shall be, incessantly played in the media that the BJP mostly controls, and pinged across millions of WhatsApp groups. The BJP’s propaganda machinery is incredibly powerful, and it won’t stop until those images are indelibly linked with the protests in popular consciousness. It is very likely that Chief Minister Adityanath government’s strongman posturing, from the brutal police action on protesters to seizing people’s properties, is being silently applauded by the Hindu majority, as The Indian Express report attested.
Some NRC-CAA protests have been massive, such as the one at August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai that perhaps drew an excess of one lakh people. But to extrapolate from these protests and conclude that the Modi government is losing support would be exceedingly naive.
Also read: Biggest hope of stopping Modi govt’s sinister NRC project in 2020 rests on India’s youth
Support of ‘silent majority’
Populist leaders like Narendra Modi rely on the support of the “silent majority”, a term former US President Richard Nixon popularised during a presidential address in 1969. In the backdrop of the growing anti-Vietnam war protests, he invoked those “ordinary” Americans who were opposed to the protests and also did not partake in the counterculture, whose voice was being drowned by the loud protesters. This proved to have a powerful appeal, in spite of the tumult of the late 1960s, with the Black Power movement, the anti-Vietnam War movement, and the Martin Luther King Jr assassination riots.
Nixon highlighted the underlying contrast between the views of the “silent majority” and the views of a vocal minority composed of mediapersons, intellectuals, cosmopolitans, and liberals. This was smart because polls showed that two-thirds of Americans were opposed to the anti-war protests, while also hoping for the Vietnam War to end quickly. The appeal to “patriotic Americans” to not let those opposed to the United States win, was therefore a politically winning strategy, especially among older and working-class voters. In 1972, Nixon won a landslide re-election, winning 49 out of 50 states, vindicating his “silent majority” strategy of stitching a cross-class White coalition.
BJP is on track
It would be strange to expect a country that gave the BJP two consecutive resounding majorities to suddenly change course over secularism or on the constitutional rights of Muslims. It is therefore likely that the ‘silent majority’ of Indians stand with the Modi government on citizenship issues, and that the BJP would win an equally resounding victory if the elections were held today. The BJP might have to make a few tactical retreats for PR purposes, or to assuage the international media, but its political strategy likely remains a winning one.
The author is a research scholar in political science at the University of Delhi. Views are personal.
Its unnecessary to protest on CAA, when this is only on infiltrators. Why people born here and living for decades are worried on sharing their data. When those people who want all the benefits of Govt , must share their data.
In fact its time to know the definition and metrix to measure Who is minority and how it is decided in our constitution. Its time to give a level at which they can loose the minority status and its important for the country. As the funds expenditure on minority benefits can not go forever irrespective of their increase . Its applicable to all minorities irrespective of their religion, caste , creed and language.
Nicely written article. But Muslims in India are not in any real danger. They may be in real danger tomorrow if they continue their violent protest and expose their anti India behaviour. Don’t doubt Modi, he can then do anything and Hindus will support it. Be tolerant towards Hindu refugees and Hindus will be tolerant towards Muslims.
I strongly support NRC, CAA n NPP. I wish to support Modiji….if he has love for our country like Bhagat Singh, Sardar Vallavbhai Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose n Lal Bahadur Shastri.
1st n important point….Through NRC Modiji has to send back all illegal immigrants from our country. There is no compromise at this specific issue. And try to bring back Hindus who r tortured badly in Pakistan, Bangladesh n Afghanistan. Where will Hindus go……??? Modiji wants to give them citizenship…..what’s wrong in it ??
There r 57 Muslim countries in the world….if Modiji wants to make Hindustan as Hindu Nation…..what’s wrong in it ????
I wish, if some true leader can remove the word Secularism from our Constitution then in future we won’t face any problem.
Other religion people take advantage of Hindus bcoz Hindus r most liberal, considerate n forgiving nature.
I love my country…..hope BJP will really reform India from its root n focus on developing our country like America n make economically easy to survive poor n middle class people.
Jai Hind……. Bharat Mata Ki Jai.
I fully endorse you brother
Shame so many wasted so much time in some muck.
The premise is wrong. Personally know people who are not Muslims, liberal middle-class, Leftists and dissenting students but are against CAA.
No body including the Author has ever written about silent support of Majority of Muslims to Terrorists, Gazwa-i-hind, Tripple Talak, Producing future and current anti national elements, resistance to reforms in Muslim society and lot more. They want everything free and subsidized. Nobody writes about the reforms needed in Muslim society, which is need of the hour.
So clearly and well said!
I wish the pple start voting on matters like education, health, jobs , science , researches. Sad to see new crop generation wasting life n mind on usless issues .
careful what you wish for – bjp will be wiped out if pple start voting on matters like education, health, jobs , science , researches and if the govt deals with these issues, it will not need to tamper with the constitution in order to get votes.
Lol…. so whom to vote, Congress who had really worked on genuine issues for all these 7o years. If they really done bjp wouldn’t have been existed today. Stop ur blind hatred and stop calling names like bhakts etc, it will only expose you.
I extremely oppose to the CAA,NRC and NPR because at first all the cabinet show their degree .
It’s a practical view of situation.
I have one objection though.
Author mentioned doctored images by BJP .He should have been neutral and unbiased.
As doctored images by protestors are also being circulated.
We expect unbiased opinion.
The author is frightened by Modi awe .But the protests have made the b.j.ps plan open to disenfranchise the minorities,s.c,s.t.and o.b.c.it is not less a chievement.If the silent majority does not realise now will know later after spending their life in collecting the papers for n.r.c.still don’t realised die stray dogs death.As far the implementation of constitution is concerned Dr Ambedkar knew it..He said however the constitution is good it depends on the goodness of the people who implement it.How can you expect a person who does not know to make halwa of carrot will not make pungi. of it.BJPis doing what it learnt in r.s.s shakhas And your analogy of American public is rediculous .You are comparing first standard student with vishvaguru.
I think Muslims have damaged themselves by further increasing the gulf between them and the Indian majority.
Jai hind
Threat to Muslim citizenship, ridiculous
That’s how the lies spread
It is FOOLISH to think on the Communal lines.
Congress & other Opposition Parties are Protectors of the PREAMBLE & Constitution. They all are
Protectors and not Protestors as made out to be.
It is Foolish & shere lack of logical vision, ideas to club Congress activities whenever it raises the issues and voice that covers all sections of society.
Govt. just passes the problems as if focussed only on
faith based term. We are not playing the game of KHO KHO.
It is their Trade Mark Defence when their Offence & Amunition gets exhausted.
JAIHIND.
I fully agree with this report, because we the silent majority are disciplined and responsible citizens. The unruly mobs of protesters may have field days for the gullible media and the band of onlookers, but it will never be successful to reverse the mandate received by the Modi led BJP.
Most unbiased and truthful article
The author is a muslim. He never talks of the decimation of Hindu populace in Pakistan and Bangladesh by the silent majority population in those countries. This has adverse effect in India bound to be exploited by the politicians.
India , famously known as rape and vikhari capital of the world, where 65% population can’t get food and a third world craphole country is thinking about minorities of neighboring countries with it’s fatal useless population. Irony
Oh please Mr Das, don’t be a trash. CAA was never going to be a matter of debate or riot or protest had you all got it straight what’s happening to Hindus in Pakistan Bangladesh and Afghanistan. You people created unrest, you people instilled fear and insecurity among the minority. Don’t talk as if you care for the country okay? You are just pretending to raise this Rape Capital and Bikhari shit just because you stand on the opposite. Had you really cared for the country, you, people like you would have focused on protesting for strict laws against rape and also for economy. Ironical and hypocritical is you. NRC, CAA and UCC are all important for the country if the country doesn’t wish to see another British Raj or Mughal Raj again. Trust me because of your call for secularism which is always biased, we Hindus have been victims.
#NRC is coming its must #CAA was must #NPR is nothing but census so routine 11yrs affair, we support on all 3 issues bcoz we know Muslims who r opposing it not bcoz of its effects on them its effect on their gazwa e hind fantasy.. Hindus who r silent they will reply on 2024 with a click on evms again… Lets Muslims enjoy their violent protests & show to the whole world how peaceful their islam teachings them to protests, all liberandos too r exposed ??
Actually Muslims have problem with BJP they just protested for everything may be GST, Demonization,370,35A, and if govt.of India will bring population bill they will protest
Get well soon Ravi
Hope you recover physically and mentally at the earliest
Hindu minds like you take lesson from history; large masses holding rocks of falsehood will fly away in air like bales of cotton; you can not stop a tsunami of blood with whatever means you got; mobocracy rule has to perish to save innocent humanity..
absolutely right, we hindu will show our support when the general election would be held.???
People are not dumb to see Images of old muslim women who don’t remember where they kept teeth set worrying about CAA and joining anti CAA protests..these images coming out before Friday prayer is also funny..You bring religion to politics then expect not to be beaten by same stick is noteworthy..next time keep your religion at home because…… THIS IS INDIA (Sparta kick)
We voted him because of congress minority politics. Since my childhood, my grandfather said either vote for congress or do not vote. But after looking at the way congress played vote Bank politics, whole family fell like its not the congress our elders dreamed of. So first time we all voted bjp in last elections. I don’t think any of us regretted our choice after looking at the dramas going around CAA. It’s sad to see congress’s failed foot mark during last elections but they are digging their own graveyard.
Right. Correct
The long term outcome of these protests can only be detrimental to the interests of Indian Muslims who’ve been used as pawns by groups inimical to the Modi govt, for common non-muslims who were really not too concerned with the topic have been woken up by the protests which many feel have no real basis. The NRC/NPR doesn’t say that it is an exercise meant solely for muslims because it includes every citizen. Why is it that it is assumed that Muslims who lack documents shall be evicted from the country? Will those non-muslims who lack documents be thrown into the Indian Ocean too?!! Where does this peculiar insecurity stem from in our Muslim community, one wonders? The sudden new-found love for Rohingiya Muslims is also mysterious….assuming that it is somehow India’s business to welcome suffering muslims from all over the world to prove its “secular” credentials is the “in” thing, is both legally untenable and ridiculously puerile!
Questioning or petitioning the incumbent govt is one matter, being a chronic “againster” is quite another…..it will lead to nothing more than needless alienation of a community amongst common folk!
Because the BJP is fascist. It is inevitable that an ethnic cleansing will happen. It is not an assumption, they themselves have been saying this for years. No amount of gaslighting or deflection would assuage the dread that these people feel. No Muslim is safe, and Hindus who support the BJP are in fact Nazis.
Because the BJP is fascist. It is inevitable that an ethnic cleansing will happen. It is not an assumption, they themselves have been saying this for years. No amount of gaslighting or deflection would assuage the dread that these people feel. No Muslim is safe, and Hindus who support the BJP are in fact Nazis.
Excellent comment. Fully agree with you. The reason muslims in India are agitating is because a lot of illegal Rohingyas and others have been given Aadhar cards to vote for Congress .
Hence with CAA they will be found out in WB, Hyd,Kerala,TN and other states.
Hence this humgama to cover it up.
Let the muslim refugees go to other Muslim nations. India’s majority are Hindus. For any muslim their faith is very important more than the country they live in.
So they will never be happy in India till they make it into an Islamic country.
Let the foolish Hindu people understand this very well. That is why BJP is hell bent on wanting to know the facts correctly.
I will not be surprised that India already has 40% Muslim population.
PROTESTS HAVE BEEN ORGANIZED BY NON-MUSLIMS AND IN MANY PLACES MUSLIMS HAVE JOINED . STUDENTS OF IIMs, IITs AND OTHER LEADING EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ARE ALSO PROTESTING . IT REMINDS ONE OF ANTI-MANDAL AGITATION EXCEPT THAT THE STUDENTS INVOLVED IN MANDAL AGITATION DID NOT FACE ANY POLICE BRUTALITY
Also this bill talks of minorities in those countries whereas basically the three countries in question have Muslims as majority. Why they should leave their country and come here? Is this a rehabilitation center? As such our population is increasing rapidly
Why you people are not coming out impartially about the act? Why anti BJP stance is overpowering this issue? Is it that you want to create anti modi wave instead of supporting Muslims?
Hindu minds like you take lesson from history; large masses holding rocks of falsehood will fly away in air like bales of cotton; you can not stop a tsunami of blood with whatever means you got; mobocracy rule has to perish to save innocent humanity..
We are with mody with our country. Why are you not protesting in China? We passed teen atlas after giving you a lot of time and transparency. Jahadis where are you now dare read Quran in China they have changed it?
Majority Hindu voters are gravitating more towards BJP, many of them not supported it electorally in the last election. Narinder Modi’s courage and resolve to undo or modify the glut in goverance, social fabric and nation’s defence suffered during long Congress regime, has made him a formidable leader. More the opposition, liberals and muslims resent on these issues, stronger Modi will emerge. They have to find a better narrative to lower his image, which remained un-dented despite personal attacks on his persona. Unfortunately, and to its advantage, opposition and others are fighting against Modi and now Shah included in person and not BJP as rival party.
Muslims lead protests against Modi government are part of a conspiracy by jihadists, communists and sonia congress. The majority is watching the Muslims fanatic on rampage. Modi’s support base is bound to be strengthened as never before.
I think writer of this article is seen the results of Zee TV Miss call camping and when found that within 7 day they got more than 10000000 miss call, it means general silent public are with Mr.Mody. yes, you are correct, most of the people even in West Bengal, supporting CAA and NRC and NPR but silently. We don’t like to show us in the street but we support Mr. Mody in this issue and also we will support for UCC and massive family planning for Muslim as they are purposely increasing their population at more than 24% growth rate. It is very much needed to control Muslim population in India very urgently.
It was much less than expected thanks to the poorly managed drive by the zee tv. In my region it always gave the line busy signals frustrating the missed caller’s.
I AM A DOUBLE GRADUATE AND IN A PROFESSIONAL COURSE . I DID NOT GIVE A MISSED CALL . WE KNOW HOW SUCH CAMPAIGNS ARE ORGANIZED AND VOTED
More anti CAA protests more cementing the bond between modi and Hindu’s ,all can see through that all those vocal and silent minority who upposed modi have become bold thinking it’s right time to strike…but far too early and premature.
Absolutely rubbish. It’s an attempt to gain some brownies for self and print. in. If you are a researcher pl dont forget that students are participating in such large-scale protests for the first time after nearly 45 years. Now is that young group will bring about the change. Then Jan Sangh moved away from hardline Hindutva, now they will ultra rightist way. Yes, they have control over government, media including social media, police, judiciary. So sitting in Delhi University it may be difficult to understand the ground reality.
“students are participating in such large-scale protests…”
Few students aligned with left-wing politics do not represent the crores of Indian students. There are 1000’s of colleges in India. What percentage of people have you seen on road protesting against CAA? JNU, Jamia, AMU, Jadavpur types have always been against Modi, nothing new in the way they reacted, remember Rohith Vemula episode?
Liberals have turned CAA/ NRC issue into an issue about Muslims. Hindu majority will never aligned themselves with an Islamic cause. No Hindu has any problem with few thousand minority Hindu refugees from Pakistan and Bangladesh, coming and taking Indian citizenship.
Liberals have given Modi another “achievement” to show to his supporters and prospective voters.
No ! In Assam issue is not Religion ! Surprized? Our issue is Language and culture. Do not want any Hindiwala or Bengalee here any more.
Is any country fight for a citizenship for foreigners by burning buses and car on behalf of foreigners?? Our is a strange country fight like this. It is strange that no Indian fight for killing 1.5 lakh innocent TAMIL people at Sri Lanka by with the active participation of Indian Government. Even so called Dravdians shut their mouth and back for power and money. Now these people and educated masses fighting on behalf of foreigners, Long live India and democracy.
It is foolish to think that Hindus voted Modi because of nationalism or communalism. I have voted for Modi twice.
In 2014, I wasn’t a fan of Modi because of left oriented propoganda running mainstream medias, the only reason I voted for Modi back then was because of corruption charges against Congress (most of those charges were proved to be true).
In 2019, I voted for him because I wasn’t the same guy I was in 2014. I didn’t believed everything that media said, I cross checked every details, I stopped reading just the headlines, I experienced what really was happening in the real world, realised that ‘secularism’ is bogus, read the real history of India, came to know how Islam and Christianity grew with such rapidness.
The most important thing that I learned is that the if an adult whose age is >30 and is supporting Congress then s/he is part of Congress family or getting money from Congress or a Muslim or a Christian or foolish.
Ah Cross-checker-ji, did you cross-check who killed Haren Pandya?
If all the protesters are able to read in between the lines of CAA & NRC, they would foresee the future vividly the BJP is still in command and will be. Muslims will come under accountability no matter what, It is not the Islamophobia that Modi is creating, it is THE CITIZENS OF INDIA. who will vote for him in the coming of next elections as well. Jai HInd.
Exactly. These laws are made to boost BJP, not for the good of the land. That is way we oppose them. If you realize that and you love a democratic India, you must also protests.
Don’t smear public space with your stupid lies. Modi is for Stronger India ??
Bro, not lengthy replies since you have SPOKEN THE TRUTH.
If we would have seen these guys when Hindus were driven from Kashmir
I would have been the first one to stand with you.
EVERYONE KNOWS THE TRUTH and GOOD THAT YOU ACKNOWLEDGE IT.
Jai Hind.
Did you forget that Jawaharlal Nehru was a Kashmiri Pandit? Badri Raina, clearly a Kashmiri Hindu is writing powerfully in support of anti-CAA protests. So will you now stand with us and read out the constitution at the next protest?
Pick a random Kashmiri Pandit and quote them endlessly. To this day, none of the Muslims have any concern about kashmiri pandits. For them, the KPs are just a footnote. To this day, Muslims won’t fight for the rights of KPs. I wonder why ?
Aurangzeb may have lived 300 years ago but his mentality to torment people of other faith thrives among Muslims even today. PFI severing the arms of a Professor for ‘insulting’ Islam or indulging in terrorism to avenge ‘grievances’ are manifestations of this violent past of theirs. 200k Muslims weren’t killed by found missing and many had moved to Pakistan and settled in PoK. This typical Muslim exaggeration to project their victimhood while denying the genocides that they were involved in despite the rulers who commissioned it openly confessing to the same in their official autobiographies. Muslims who have imported Salafism into India, fostered the terrorism of Ahl-e-Hadees & Deobandism in India will not escape the consequences for their actions.
The protest against CAA has very good equivalent . It has same potential to harm political standing of mr. Modi and BJP which –” CHOWKIDAR CHOR HAI ” campaign of Congress party and its highly placed leader Mr. Rahul Gandhi unleashed against Modi Ji. Fake narratives based on “Hate Modi ” will bring same results. How long Congress and left liberals will continue to use Muslim masses for their own selfish goals.? They too will realise some day that they are being used to fight their battles . They too will realise that they too have equal rights and duty towards this nation.
I think the author has got it all wrong. The CAA by itself will not create much unrest unless it is accompanied with NRC. It is better that the government should halt at this point and do nothing further in this regard. The fundamental issue is not about the divisive consequences of the CAA but the timing of such measures. The government has unnecessarily raked up the issue, when the country is facing tough economic challenges. “The silent Hindu Majority” as referred to by the author doesn’t either oppose or support the move. The major objection is that this is totally unwarranted. Economic development, Agrarian Crisis, employment and the looming threat of stagflation are the real issue. The ‘silent majority’ whether of Hindu or non-Hindu segments cares about these issues of livelihood. Futile controversies raked up to catch votes mean nothing to them.
I think this is an honest view of what is happening. It does not take sides, says what is actually happening and does not hide behind “my perspective”. I believe unless opposition does an honest analysis they will just keep harking on issues which does not help “India” or “constitution”.
They need to think what is their product, it’s services and whether both of these align with what end customer (customer which is diverse but still homogeneous in terms of their expectations on growth and jobs) needs and is asking for.
Dear Author, you are wrong here on multiple counts. First, no one believes that this is the beginning of the end – we all know that it is the beginning of a long long resistance. Second, the most hopeful aspect is that young adults are ready to dissent – the generation now in their 30s and 40s turned rightwing in a big way. but their younger siblings and children seem to be ready to think for themselves. Finally, you forget that Dalits are joining the fight in droves – in the name of babasahib. you forget that Tribals of Jharkhand have been worshipping the constitution (and were booked by the bjp govt for their pain and now have been pardoned by the new cong govt). So all in all, we are many, and they are increasingly few.
he doesnt care, he is a jihadi
Errr… did you even read what I wrote? you seem to be a hinjihadi (hindutva-jihadi) yourself.
I am one
That two seat was won by bjp
Every nation must have a population register of its citizens and so does India have one and will be updating it in its census. Difference is that the register does not know whether the people included are Bonafide citizens or illegal migrants. The CAA will be implemented by the centre which will confer citizenship to illegal immigrants upon application for citizenship barring one community. The problem will arise when Bonafide Indians will not be able to provide documents ancestors or birth certificate and will be kept out of the register. We will have to wait for the rules to be notified. Modi – Shah have played political masterstroke despite their failures on economic issues which are hurting common people and have diverted the narrative towards nationalism.
I am surprised how the author gets away by making a statement like ”Muslims …will be the most affected by the Islamophobic and discriminatory nature of the CAA”. He does not give an iota of proof why this is so. Are articles in The Print not subjected to any editorial scrutiny or is it that any rant can pass off as an opinion piece?
i guess the autor has enough proof that this will not effect any indian citizen..only those who are persucted will be given citizenship…no one is caming to bang your door and ask to fill up a caa form if u r citizen…so stop spreading lies..
Intersting to suddenly see so many Bong names mushrooming in the comments section, especially in the view of Shahensha’s reported interest in learning bengali. why is bjp obsessed with bengal and bengalis at the moment?
Have the bengalees forgotten borgey’s? 400000 Biharis and Bengali’s were massacred by them. They weren’t Muslims. Research about this.
no, bargis are in our lullabies, no bengali can forgot them. but they were mrathi-hindus, invited by a muslim would-be-nawab. so much for hindu-muslim schism! we definitely do not need another invasion from nagpur.
Yes, it was rather a loose talk from the opposition?
Objectionable.
The author wants all Bangladeshi Muslims to have Indian citizenship. Then he will be on the street to cry for sharia law.
Good to see the liberals finally realising that they took a flying arrow here.
CAA never targeted the Indian citizens. It’s a law meant to help the minorities of the three notorious countries. Overzealous liberals and their Islamist friends have pushed more Hindus towards RSS-BJP.
Liberals cried wolf, their pals in English media(including foreign) made loud noises, B-grade Bollywood celebs tweeted in their favour and the perennial Modi critics did their item…all in vain. Protests have been reduced to Shaheen Bagh in South Delhi, which are irritating the common Delhites.
Yes, fools who have shown their foolishness twice, are unlikely to show any smarts the third time.
wow…wow..wow…no “intelligent man/women” could decipher your liberal IQ……must be from another planet….awesome….
Are you a naayinte mon from Kerala?
What the writer does not see here is that is not against the BJP that people are voicing, its more about existential crisis.. When pushed to the wall people will speak.. today its Muslims mostly but this facism will engulf everything on its way eventually no matter how mcy elections they win
CAA has lit a spark. One is not sure the issue on its own, or even in conjunction with the national NRC, could have led to such widespread protests in the absence of general angst. A huge turnout in Cochin, including many, many non Muslims. It would be wise for the government and the ruling party to make good use of the feedback these countrywide protests are providing. Within a few months of the general election.
“A huge turnout in Cochin”
Yes, we know what a saffron bastion Kerala has been till now. Good to see it cracking…not.
When did non-Ms of Kerala voted for BJP, all are usual suspects. It is M only protest, and will be counter productive to opposition.
This is the reality. Author is accurate in his analysis. I am from UP and there is indeed some opposition to CAA-NRC among BJP supporters but not enough to tilt the scale. Fight CAA-NRC in SC and through peaceful protests on the streets but focus on unemployment, economy etc if you want to defeat BJP.
Like expected, this article reeks of communalism. Everything is seen through a communal lens even when something is taken up in the nation’s interest. But a person has to be totally objective sans his or her own religion and faith to understand a policy or step. And don’t label those protesting in metropolitan as Liberals, they think they are Liberals or Secularists but actually they are Pseudos . I am a total liberal at heart following all liberal principles but i see the merit and the logic in the act which is in best interest of the Nation and Nationalism is the only ” Ism ” one should follow.
Those who are opposing NRC, a question to them. Do you want India, second most populous country in the word soon to be first, a country which doesn’t have a register of its citizens ? Are you so blinded by hate of a single person that you don’t see the merit in this. If you are saying that NRC is not needed, you are effectively denying that there has been infiltration in huge numbers to India in the past 40 years and you are saying that Infiltration is legal. Just think deeply before you take a stand. Regarding CAA , its India’s tragedy that we share borders with Theocratic Islamic nations. If assuming the nations mentioned in the Act were Secular Nations, this Act wouldn’t have come to being. Then opposing the Act will make total sense or if we were granting Nepali Hindu citizenship that would have been unconstitutional and discriminatory coz Hinduism is the state religion of Nepal but Nepal has been excluded. THINK , THINK , THINK !! is my appeal before you spread fear among a community and disturb this nations brotherhood.
The article indeed mirrors ground reality but there is definitely one positive take. Muslims, who have been at the receiving end since the rise of the BJP to power in 2014, they were left to fend for themselves. No voice from any quarter was raised in their favor. In fact they were ignored by political parties as well even during elections. Muslims were deeply feeling isolated from the mainstream. They did not find even a modicum of support from any quarter on Tripple Talaq, removal of Article 370 or for that matter Babri Masjid issue. It is for the first time some reasonable voice, though in minority, have come public and hit streets in favor of the Muslims. In fact it is because of these vocal voices (liberal Hindus, social activists, students) that gave courage and determination to speak out. The BJP would not stop just at CAA, NRC or NPR. It has a bigger agenda. At least, there would come pause in it.
“pause in it”?
Didn’t you read what he has written. BJP is having a time of its life yet again. Hijab donning and skull cap wearing youth chanting religious slogans, might give goosebumps to woke liberals and old-school leftists but the majority (irrespective of their class and background) aren’t a big fan of this.
Modi-Shah will now further press the accelerator on their path towards a Hindu nation.
CAA never targeted Indian citizens but leftists and Islamists took a flying arrow and divided the country between the Hindus and Muslims, only to benefit Modi. This ain’t 1947 and Modi certainly ain’t Gandhi.
Triple talaq, abolition of 370, giving protection to religious victims is against muslims ?
Do these research scholars, who worry about the Constitution of India, know about what Indira Gandhi did to the Constitution? They should read both 39th and 42nd amendments to the Constitution, keeping the original text of Constitution before them. What Indira Gandhi did was ****, the four letter word which I do not want to use. I am quite certain that Modi cannot do what Indira Gandhi did. Now there are many safeguards in the Constitution itself against declaration of Emergency, or tampering with the Constitution. Tell us is there any country in the world which does not have some semblance of Citizens’ Register? Perhaps, India is the only country which admits as citizens, people who enter by doing the equivalent of house-breaking. You throw out a tresspasser. You don’t give ration card and voter ID to a tresspasser. They take away what rightly belongs to Indians, be they Hindus, or Muslims, or Christians et al.
“Tell us is there any country in the world which does not have some semblance of Citizens’ Register?” – NO COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, NOT ONE, HAS ANYTHING LIKE A CITIZENS’ REGISTER, OR A DATABASE!
I am confident that NRC will never succeed – not because of protests, but because it is just impractical. The main reason is that the lower level officials who will collect evidence and decide on the matter would be enormously greedy to take monitary advantage. They will extract money even from Hindus. I foresee a situation where Muslims who have no documents to prove their residency would assume Hindu names without converting. Now it will be the burden of the official machinery to prove that the person is not a Hindu. On the other hand real Hindus may be falsely targeted with the allegation that they are Muslims. This will open up a fertile ground for officials to make money. Modi – Shah are incapable of thinking this far.
Rest assured no one is going to pursue nation wide NRC. Even Hindus are apprehensive about it. But the communal purpose is served when you debate or take positions on this. Advantage you know who.
LOL! so who is you-know-who aka Voldemort? Modi or Shah? A tough choice! I know who the chosen one is : the one they love to torment.
Yes, its a ploy to boost economic activity by putting more money in the hands of lower-level officials.
I think you have hit the nail on its head. These protests are still confined to a small minority which was already opposed to BJP. So no new gains for the opposition.
The article is based on wrong premises. CAA and NRC has nothing at all against Indian minorities who are citizens. No one worry about co religionist who are affected by NRC but are illegal migrants. In fact, they should cone forward to identify such illegal migrants. This is not a question of collecting more by taking help of majority!
BJP may or may not win in 2024. That is hardly the issue when we are discussing illegal migrants.
Sir the article of your’s is at par with political situation in Hindi heartland as well as with the religious divide so brazenly visible to the naked eyes…… If party in question can consolidate the majority votes in the heartland than no opposition can unseat it. And that is what their strategy is by stirring there sentiments and paranoia in majority.
Before protesting for NRC
Aurangzeb’s India should try to think about certain issue ( Aurangzeb since he reputed ruler whose name was given to road & everybody opposed renaming it )
1. When Aurangzeb’s India will discuss & start reconciliation of Kashmiri pandit.
2. Aurangzeb’s India tell the truth that Dr. Ambedkar’s constitution never had secular word in the constitution & also not in preamble.
3. Aurangzeb’s India should answer that PM Indiraji never made election issue for changing preamble in Democratic & constitution al way, but during emergency inserted that words. Against Dr. Ambedkar’s constitution.
4. Aurangzeb’s India should also answer that when door lock of Ram idol in babri masjid was opened in Ayodhya, how many temple were attacked & destroyed in Kashmir.
Like Gandhiji, who was one of Incident not pathbreaking ( as per Dr. Ambedkar ) event, Mr Modi is also one of ruler
Hey do you have a screw loose?
That guy Aurangzeb lived three hundred years ago, you are absurd to get upset about it
Pundits , what about the 200,000 Muslims killed in Jummu during partition google “partition Jummu communal riots”
Make India great again, get a job instead of dividing Indians.
You are an anti national, be patriotic of get out of my country
Stop spreading hate and poison between our Hindu and Muslim brothers
Are you from RSS the thugs who preach poison and divide people ?
A loose screw? The guy doesn’t have any screws or marbles!
forgot the Shahenshah from 3 centuries ago – let us talk of the present Shah. The India of Shah-Modi-Bhisht is not so different from the Pakistan of Zia. And that is not acceptable to us, Indians. Hum asmvedhan bachayenge aur kagaz nahin dilkhyenge
Oh hooo new Bhaskar on the block? Madam may I ask Why don’t you raise the same Slogan when your so called Gurus aka Liberals ask for the VALID DOCUMENT to bring in for attending their so called concert or function?
Hypocricy ki Bhi Hadh hoti hai!
I THINK MANY EDUCATED CITIZENS ARE MISQUOTING THE REPERCUSSIONS OF CAA AND NRC …IT IS SAD THAT …THOSE WHO OPPOSE BJP ARE ANTI NATIONAL …NO MUSLIM IS AGAINST CAA …WE ARE AGAINST ….NRC AND CAA WHEN WE SEE THEM TOGETHER…WE TOO WELCOME OUR HINDU BROTHERS …FROM NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES ….HATRED ……NEVER WINS ITS ONLY LOVR THAT WINS..CHECK THE HISTORY
Communalism and hate politics works everywhere. Only this time it is being tried on a gigantic scale in India. But economy is an irritant in the design.
I think we are all barking up the wrong tree. It’s not CAA that you should oppose. It’s NRC. The idea that some sarkari babu can decide anyone’s citizenship is problematic as proven in Assam’s case. When this “silent majority” sees protests against CAA, they only agree with the Right’s view. “vaha ke hindu/sikh/buddhist/jain/christians ko diya tho kyu rorahe hain, yaha ke musalmano ka thodi na kuch bigdega”. Fight NRC. Not CAA. And CAA alone doesn’t really discriminate. Muslims of other countries still have the same recourse to getting indian citizenship. It has only made it easy for non muslims of those 3 countries to get it easier. So it doesn’t really bar muslims. Protest NRC. Not CAA.
We need to protest both. CAA ushers in the use of religion to determine citizenship – that is not acceptable. what prevents bjp from deleting the long list of religions in CAA and simply saying that as per international convention, all persecuted people may ask for asylum?
I am a mualim and i dmt find it problematic.
Why should any person not from my country should use my resources.