The Indian government’s sudden decision to enforce a controversial citizenship law has reignited tensions and sparked protests across the country just weeks before a national election.
The Citizenship Amendment Act, which had been dormant since late 2019 following deadly riots, grants Indian citizenship to persecuted Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Jains, Parsees, and Christians from neighboring countries, while pointedly excluding Muslims.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government announced the enforcement of the law, which had been met with widespread opposition and protests in the past. The move is seen as a way for Modi to deliver on a promise and potentially sway voters in districts with Hindu refugees who stand to benefit from the law.
Critics argue that the law is discriminatory and part of a larger effort to marginalize Muslims in India. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has called the law “fundamentally discriminatory.”
Protests have erupted in several states following the announcement, with reports of police violence against demonstrators. However, there are also communities, such as lower-caste Hindus in West Bengal, who support the law and see it as a way to secure their citizenship.
The enforcement of the Citizenship Amendment Act comes at a critical time in Indian politics, with an election expected in April and May. The law’s impact on the election and its implications for India’s diverse population of 1.4 billion remain to be seen.
