Conservative narrative on CAA, NRC should focus on
-On why sharp changes in religious demography are a problem
-On downsides of illegal immigration
-On why persecuted Hindu groups are "exceptional"
Yet articulation on these issues is weak
Aftertaste is one of authoritarianism
-On why sharp changes in religious demography are a problem
-On downsides of illegal immigration
-On why persecuted Hindu groups are "exceptional"
Yet articulation on these issues is weak
Aftertaste is one of authoritarianism
As the messaging is not very clear, it is like preaching to the choir
The fence-sitters don't seem all that convinced that these moves were worth the hassle
The opposition's narrative on heavy-handedness, lack of a consensual approach on the other hand is striking a chord
The fence-sitters don't seem all that convinced that these moves were worth the hassle
The opposition's narrative on heavy-handedness, lack of a consensual approach on the other hand is striking a chord
Even if you hear the senior leaders on this issue (Modi, Shah), the talking points seem to be -
1. Hey this doesn't affect Indian muslims
2. Hey this is unfinished business of partition (followed by old soundbytes of how Nehruji, Bapuji felt about giving "aashray" to Pak-Hindus
1. Hey this doesn't affect Indian muslims
2. Hey this is unfinished business of partition (followed by old soundbytes of how Nehruji, Bapuji felt about giving "aashray" to Pak-Hindus
So TP #1 is purely reactive and defensive
TP #2 may seem very irrelevant to people not tuned into history
The real need for slowing down demographic change is not driven home
TP #2 may seem very irrelevant to people not tuned into history
The real need for slowing down demographic change is not driven home
The fact of the matter is -
The case for CAA / NRC concerns the big elephant in the room -
Insecurity around religious demography and its implications for Indian politics in the "short run" and for Indian territorial integrity in the "medium to long run"
The case for CAA / NRC concerns the big elephant in the room -
Insecurity around religious demography and its implications for Indian politics in the "short run" and for Indian territorial integrity in the "medium to long run"
Can predominantly Muslim regions remain peaceful and integral parts of India in the long run?
If the answer to that question is "Yes", then you don't need a CAA or NRC.
Many people think the answer is a No. But this cannot be discussed openly and politely
If the answer to that question is "Yes", then you don't need a CAA or NRC.
Many people think the answer is a No. But this cannot be discussed openly and politely
In large measure the reason polite discussion on this topic is v hard is because we are 70 years away from partition
There is hardly anybody alive today with adult memories of the events of 1940s
Many educated Indians don't have a good understanding of the events of those years
There is hardly anybody alive today with adult memories of the events of 1940s
Many educated Indians don't have a good understanding of the events of those years
So for many young Indians, even the territorial problems in J&K are thought of as an "external affairs" issue, as a "defence" issue
They don't conceive it as a problem caused by the state's unique religious demography
In part because we are not tuned to think that way
They don't conceive it as a problem caused by the state's unique religious demography
In part because we are not tuned to think that way
