India has recently announced regulations that would potentially enable the implementation of a highly contentious citizenship bill that explicitly excludes individuals of the Muslim faith. The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs made this announcement on Monday, just ahead of the upcoming general election in the spring, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is vying for an uncommon third term in office.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act provides a fast-track to citizenship for immigrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan – on the condition that they are not Muslim. This controversial law is intended for religious minorities who have faced persecution based on their faith, such as Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians. Originally passed by India’s parliament in 2019, the bill could not take effect until the rules were notified.
The bill, favored by Hindu nationalist Modi, faced strong opposition by claiming it was unconstitutional and marginalized India’s 200-million Muslims. Home Minister Amit Shah praised the move as fulfilling constitutional promises to various religious groups.
Critics of the bill argue that it is yet another instance of how Modi and the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have imposed a Hindu nationalist agenda on secular India, a country with a population of 1. 3 billion, at the expense of the Muslim community.
The BJP originates from India’s Hindu right-wing movement, with many of its supporters viewing India as a Hindu nation.
Critics argue that since Modi’s rise to power nearly a decade ago, the once secular and democratic founding ethos of the world’s largest democracy is deteriorating rapidly. Minorities feel persecuted under the BJP’s majoritarian policies, and any government criticism is met with censorship and punishment. This concern is heightened by recent events, such as the demolition of two mosques in Uttarakhand state and Delhi within days of each other, resulting in clashes and local curfews.
In January, amidst much controversy and historical tensions, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated a vast Hindu temple on the site of a 16th-century mosque that was destroyed by Hindu hardliners over three decades ago.
While some Hindus enthusiastically celebrated the opening of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya, for the minority Muslim population in the country, it served as a stark and painful reminder of the deepening religious rifts that have escalated significantly under Modi’s leadership.
Adam Clark
Adam Clark AKA “Ruckus” is the host and producer of The Daily Ruckus, a news and opinion based podcast that started out as a hobby but eventually became a regular show featured on Alternate Current Radio.
A self-described Jack-of-all-trades, he is a business and marketing consultant, graphic designer, webmaster, content creator, media analyst, and prolific commentator. Adam’s interests are in cryptohistory, media, current events, science & technology, and avoiding contact with sharks.
