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India-Pakistan | |
Modi Faces Criticism for Excluding Muslims From Sanctuary Offer | |
2019-12-09 | |
[Telegraph] Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is facing renewed criticism after tabling legislation today (MONDAY) which will exclude Muslims from an offer of citizenship rights to religious refugees. The Citizenship Amendment Bill will see nationality defined by religion for the first time in India's history but only to followers of six faiths ‐ including Christians, Sikhs and Hindus ‐ from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. It will allow them to acquire Indian citizenship if they live or work in the country for six years and are fleeing religious persecution. However, critics argue it is the latest move to discriminate against Muslims.
Hundreds of people took to the streets of Assam, Gujarat and West Bengal today in protest. "We will fight and oppose the bill till the last drop of our blood," vowed All Assam Students' Union adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya. And blood ye will get. A group of 1,000 academics released a statement arguing the Bill undermines the pluralistic and secular history of India. Home Minister Amit Shah dismissed their concerns and said the proposed legislation is backed by India's 1.3 billion population. The BJP first proposed the Bill as an electoral promise in 2014 but it was abandoned in 2016 after protests. This time, MPs in the lower house of parliament voted unanimously in favour of passing the Bill ‐ 293 to 82 ‐ and it will now be voted on in the upper house. The date for this has not yet been disclosed but it needs approval from both houses for it to become law. Since his landslide re-election in May, Modi and the BJP have faced repeated claims of anti-Muslim discrimination. In August, he revoked Muslim-majority Jammu & Kashmir's autonomous status and the region remains under curfew and an internet blackout. Later that month he announced 1.9 million people in Assam will face detainment and deportation to Bangladesh. While Modi claimed it was part of a wider crackdown on illegal immigrants, campaigners say it is an attempt to render Indian Muslims stateless. | |
Posted by:Dron66046 |
#3 As I recall, Pakistan was established to the homeland of the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent. Nowadays that means both Pakistan and Bangladesh, while refugees from Afghanistan are returning home from both Pakistan and Iran, both willingly and un. Seems fair that refugees from there should to there be returned. Though the Ahmadis and Hazeras might make an argument, giving their general reception back home. |
Posted by: trailing wife 2019-12-09 18:00 |
#2 Maybe Modi knows something we don't... or that we refuse to admit. |
Posted by: SteveS 2019-12-09 13:31 |
#1 Would be stupid to offer citizenship to the persecutors. Try the Paks next door. Surely they will welcome fellow Muslims with open arms. |
Posted by: Snusotle the Lesser4227 2019-12-09 12:44 |