The government of the nationalist, Right-wing party carried out an exercise in the Indian state of Assam where they drew up a Citizen's List. Anyone who didn't appear on the list had to then appear before tribunals and prove that they *were* citizens of India. (2)
Ostensibly done to weed out illegal immigrants, it was widely perceived as an anti-Muslim exercise, designed to disenfranchise Muslim citizens, in keeping with the Hindutva (or Hindu supremacist) ideals of the ruling party, on the strength of which it roared into power. (3)
The exercise required citizens to supply various documents to the State to prove their citizenship (rather than the onus being on the *State* to prove that they were illegally in the country!). In a country like India, many people often lack basic papers and have no access... (4)
to documents belonging to previous generations. (My own grandmother, for example, has no birth certificate available and she was from an urban, privileged, affluent family). In the absence of documents establishing their family's presence in India before a certain date... (5)
they are assumed to be non-Indians.
This census of sorts was carried out with the blessings and at the urging of the highest Court of the land (a poor decision in itself, because the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who put in place a deadline was from the concerned state.)(6)
This census of sorts was carried out with the blessings and at the urging of the highest Court of the land (a poor decision in itself, because the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who put in place a deadline was from the concerned state.)(6)
Hundreds of thousands of people found their names missing from the final list. They had no access to lawyers who could fight for them. In a spectacular gesture, lawyers poured in to help them pro bono. But the numbers were too great and the tribunals set up for the purpose (7)
were encouraged to find against petitioners. It was a botched exercise from the start. In the same family you'd have certain members on the list and certain members rendered stateless, their names missing from the list.
Several citizens, aged or helpless, committed suicide. (8)
Several citizens, aged or helpless, committed suicide. (8)
Detention centres were established to house the 'illegals'.
But then came a twist in the tale - when the final lists were established and close to 2 million people disenfranchised/made stateless, it was discovered that the majority were Hindu and not Muslim! (9)
But then came a twist in the tale - when the final lists were established and close to 2 million people disenfranchised/made stateless, it was discovered that the majority were Hindu and not Muslim! (9)
The BJP was not prepared for this and, what's worse, the regional government, belonging to the same party, protested to the Centre.
To save face and hold onto its Hindu votebase, the BJP then brought in the Citizenship Amendment Bill (today, the Citizenship Amendement Act) (10)
To save face and hold onto its Hindu votebase, the BJP then brought in the Citizenship Amendment Bill (today, the Citizenship Amendement Act) (10)
Again ostensibly a move to help refugees (persecuted minorities) from neighbouring countries find asylum in India, this Bill proposed making it easier for them to obtain citizenship.
[Note: India's disgraceful turning away of the Rohingya is another story in itself](11)
[Note: India's disgraceful turning away of the Rohingya is another story in itself](11)
However, the Bill brazenly *specifies* the religions of the refugees who can apply. It specifically excludes Muslims from this.
Despite protests from the Opposition, the BJP passed this in Parliament through numbers and helpful allies. Now here's the mechanism: (12)
Despite protests from the Opposition, the BJP passed this in Parliament through numbers and helpful allies. Now here's the mechanism: (12)
The National Register of Citizens (#NRC) is being implemented throughout the country. Millions of Hindus AND Muslims (along with people of other religions) will get knocked off the list and become stateless. (13)
EVERY such citizen who is NOT a Muslim will then be able to apply for citizenship via the Citizenship Amendment Act!
The govt continues to claim that this deliberately exclusionary (anti-Constitutional) wording is not meant as an anti-Muslim move. (14)
The govt continues to claim that this deliberately exclusionary (anti-Constitutional) wording is not meant as an anti-Muslim move. (14)
From the day the Act was passed, protests flared up around the country. Parts of the country protest because the Act is anti-citizen and anti-human rights. Parts of the country (the North-East especially)feel that it still allows too many immigrants in. Protestors had...(15)
different reasons. But the protests were strong and confident.
The government's response in the North-East was to cut off the Internet (please see #Kashmir) and send in the army.
The death toll was at 4 today and is likely to rise. (16)
The government's response in the North-East was to cut off the Internet (please see #Kashmir) and send in the army.
The death toll was at 4 today and is likely to rise. (16)
In Delhi, the national capital, students have been protesting peacefully. One such protest, whose images went viral and captured the imagination of many dissenters, was in the Jamia Millia Islamia college, a Muslim-run establishment.
The Delhi police (under the Centre) (17)
The Delhi police (under the Centre) (17)
entered the campus (without being called by the staff or requesting permission from the college) and brutally beat up and tear-gassed students (even those not in the protest, studying in the library). Several students were admitted to hospital.
This use of force was (18)
This use of force was (18)
allegedly, in response to an act of vandalism, namely buses being burnt (a common, if meaningless, practice in Indian protests).
The original claim was the students were responsible.
However, that very evening the police themselves had declared that the students remained (19)
The original claim was the students were responsible.
However, that very evening the police themselves had declared that the students remained (19)
peaceful and there are now various theories as to who the miscreants were, but it's almost certainly not the students.
That didn't stop the police brutalizing everyone on campus.
In another University in the city of Aligarh, again allegedly in response to student violence (20)
That didn't stop the police brutalizing everyone on campus.
In another University in the city of Aligarh, again allegedly in response to student violence (20)
the police forced their way onto campus and beat up students (graphic images show students with maimed hands and bleeding heads) and tear-gassed them and in the fracas a hostel building was also set on fire, with police and students blaming each other. (21)
The internet in Aligarh was again cut off, as in other areas.
Other campuses are now rising in protest and being invaded by the police (Delhi University, this morning) who are quite happy to use force against students.
The protests continue. (22)
Other campuses are now rising in protest and being invaded by the police (Delhi University, this morning) who are quite happy to use force against students.
The protests continue. (22)
In the midst of all this violence against citizens, India's government has been silent, though spokespersons for the leading party. have already released carefully edited videos purporting to show the largely Muslim students chanting anti-Hindu slogans. They clearly wish (23)
to foment violence and demonise the students.
On 15th Dec, India's Prime Minister addressed an election rally and stated that you could identify those who carried out acts of violence by how they dressed (a clear jibe at Muslims). That evening the police attacked Jamia. (24)
On 15th Dec, India's Prime Minister addressed an election rally and stated that you could identify those who carried out acts of violence by how they dressed (a clear jibe at Muslims). That evening the police attacked Jamia. (24)
Demonstrations continue around the country, now targeting both the anti-minorities #CAA as well as protesting the use of police forces in university campuses.
Throughout this, India's Home Minister (who is in charge of the Dehi police) hasn't uttered a word. (25)
Throughout this, India's Home Minister (who is in charge of the Dehi police) hasn't uttered a word. (25)
Nor has the Prime Minister officially condemned the violence.
Lawyers approached the Supreme Court for an urgent hearing on the violence against students only for the Chief Justice to declare that the 'rioting' should stop first, holding the students responsible. (26)
Lawyers approached the Supreme Court for an urgent hearing on the violence against students only for the Chief Justice to declare that the 'rioting' should stop first, holding the students responsible. (26)
To clarify: there has been no rioting. There were acts of vandalism and it is now widely believed that these were acts instigated by some political elements (NOT the students).
The only violence against persons was directed at unarmed students. (I keep repeating: unarmed). (27)
The only violence against persons was directed at unarmed students. (I keep repeating: unarmed). (27)
In the coming days, the government will repeat their tactics of shutting down the internet wherever there are protests.
The press will try and spin the establishment lines about student violence or objective reporting will be suppressed. The govt has already issued (28)
The press will try and spin the establishment lines about student violence or objective reporting will be suppressed. The govt has already issued (28)
'advisories' to news channels, telling them to avoid airing 'anti-national' content or content that could provoke unrest (i.e. dissent?).
It has now asked State Govts. to track social media messages that could 'spread violence'. More govt speak for 'root out dissent'. (29)
It has now asked State Govts. to track social media messages that could 'spread violence'. More govt speak for 'root out dissent'. (29)
Parts of the country will still be able to report on this. But the people suffering the worst of the violence will not be able to tell their side of the story and in many cases the stories may be suppressed outright (as is the case with #Kashmir which has suffered ...(30)
a communication/internet blackout for over 134 days now).
The national and international press may not report this.
So I wanted to put it all down in a clear spot so that people outside India may have a context in which to place any news they may read about the country. (31)
The national and international press may not report this.
So I wanted to put it all down in a clear spot so that people outside India may have a context in which to place any news they may read about the country. (31)
A word about the police: they are instruments of state violence. The police themselves can only be blamed in a limited context/with an understanding of the power structures in Indian society/bureaucracy. (32)
