<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/indigo-qatar-airways-to-announce-strategic-deal-260041">IndiGo</a>, India's biggest airline by market share, has canceled 19 flights from Delhi as road traffic disruption in the capital city has affected the availability of its crew, a Delhi airport official said on Thursday. A further 16 flights are delayed.

The traffic disruption has been caused by protests in Delhi and in several cities across the country against a contentious new citizenship law that is largely seen as anti-Muslim.

"Due to traffic restrictions and to accommodate passengers reaching late to the airport, we have rescheduled and curtailed our schedule in and out of Delhi by approximately 20 departures," IndiGo said in a statement, adding that this accounts for about 10 per cent of its total flights out of the capital.

IndiGo, India's biggest airline by market share, has canceled 19 flights from Delhi as road traffic disruption in the capital city has affected the availability of its crew, a Delhi airport official said on Thursday.

IndiGo, India's biggest airline by market share, has canceled 19 flights from Delhi as road traffic disruption in the capital city has affected the availability of its crew, a Delhi airport official said on Thursday. A further 16 flights are delayed. The traffic disruption has been caused by protests in Delhi and in several cities across the country against a contentious new citizenship law that is largely seen as anti-Muslim. "Due to traffic restrictions and to accommodate passengers reaching late to the airport, we have rescheduled and curtailed our schedule in and out of Delhi by approximately 20 departures," IndiGo said in a statement, adding that this accounts for about 10 per cent of its total flights out of the capital.

IndiGo cancels 19 flights from Delhi because of protests in the city

India has no refugee policy. It is not a signatory to the UN’s 1951 Refugee Convention, which defines a refugee. Now, India avowedly wants to be a refuge for persecuted Hindus in the region and professedly for that purpose has enacted the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

At the same time, the world’s largest democracy is silent on the genocide of Myanmar’s Rohingya, the region’s worst persecuted minority. It fell to The Gambia to take up in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) the killing of thousands of Rohingya in Myanmar’s Rakhine state in August 2017. UN investigations suggest that at least 10,000 Rohingya may have been killed in the military crackdown, which saw more than 700,000 Rohingya flee Buddhist-majority Myanmar to Bangladesh.

Yet CAA provides for citizenship – on the basis of religion - to persecuted Buddhists along with Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. In other words, the refugee seeking migrant must be a non-Muslim from a Muslim-majority nation, which Myanmar is not. Neither is Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is home to the largest proportion of Hindu population – 12.6 per cent – outside India. In recent decades, it is in Sri Lanka that the largest number of Hindus (Tamils) – about 2.55 million – has suffered discrimination, denial of their rights and persecution under the majoritarian Sinhalese. It is in Sri Lanka that the highest number of Hindus (Tamils) was killed during the civil war from 1983 to 2009, which claimed nearly1.9 lakh lives including of non-Tamils; and, it is from Sri Lanka that, after 1971, the largest number of Hindu refugees came to India. Tamil Nadu still has a sizable number of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.

However, the Indian government, though explicitly committed to providing refuge to persecuted Hindus in the region, couldn’t care less about Sri Lankan Hindus. To justify their exclusion on the ground that their persecution was linguistic – and not religious – will not wash because they are Hindus as much as they are Tamils. And, as much as the Hindu, the Muslim is also a persecuted minority under the Sinhalese-Buddhist majority in Sri Lanka.

The BJP government has no explanation for this exclusion of minorities (including Hindus) in Sri Lanka and Myanmar. It may well be because the Hindi-Hindutva party has no vote bank in Tamil Nadu; and its polarising Hindu-Muslim politics has been rewarded mainly in the cow belt and is making headway in Bengal. In the eastern state, the success of its divisive agenda depends on targeting Bangladesh and “Bangladeshis” in India.

This shift to religion as a basis for citizenship and exclusion of Muslims gives a new, intimidating ring to India’s policy of “neighbours first”. The CAA upturns the very idea of citizenship by rooting it in religion. The CAA, to be followed by the NRC (National Register of Citizens), is about finding people to exclude, not include. The government can give citizenship to anyone and does not need a new law for that. It is to exclude a particular community that the new law has been passed.

Such an extension of divisiveness at home to South Asia as a whole is fraught with serious consequences including long-term damage to India’s reputation, its image as a leading power, its culture of diversity and its credentials as a democracy. Even East Asia’s authoritarian regimes with restricted democracy have taken particular care to maintain their non-discriminatory ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious diversity.&nbsp;

The CAA is an instrument for tyrannising a minority, especially the poor and persecuted in India and South Asia. In adopting such a law, the government has betrayed India’s long history of providing refuge to the persecuted and displaced from neighbouring countries.

Sixty years ago, thousands of Tibetan Buddhists and the Dalai Lama sought refuge in India. During the 1971 war, India was a refuge for lakhs of people from East Pakistan, who returned after the birth of Bangladesh. The India that stood up to the West, including for “liberation of Bangladesh”, and supported struggles against colonialism, imperialism and apartheid was a much poorer country, neither wanted at the world’s high tables nor wooed by the hegemons of the time

Regardless of the party in office – Congress, Janata, National Front-Left Front – and the ideological tilt of leaders, be it Indira Gandhi, Morarji Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Rajiv Gandhi or VP Singh, India supported the cause of the oppressed and uprooted elsewhere; and, stood up for peace, freedom and democracy.

In grace with history, India not only backed peoples’ struggles abroad but was also a safe haven to those who sought refuge and resisted tyrannies in their home countries. Besides the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans, there were others, too, over the decades - refugees and democracy activists from Iran, Afghanistan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Burma and several African countries, including South Africa.

Traditionally, Europe was home to those fleeing persecution. At a time when London and Paris, for example, were the choice of most political exiles, a young BP Koirala came to Calcutta and led Nepal’s struggle for democracy from Indian soil. History is replete with instances of the powerful pull India’s diversity and democracy exerted on the mind of freedom-loving peoples who resisted dictators, discrimination and oppression.

Doubtless, that India is changing, perhaps disappearing. But now, the very idea of that India and its values are being religiously destroyed by the state itself. 
 
(Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

India has no refugee policy. It is not a signatory to the UN’s 1951 Refugee Convention, which defines a refugee. Now, India avowedly wants to be a refuge for persecuted Hindus in the region and professedly for that purpose has enacted the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

India has no refugee policy. It is not a signatory to the UN’s 1951 Refugee Convention, which defines a refugee. Now, India avowedly wants to be a refuge for persecuted Hindus in the region and professedly for that purpose has enacted the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). At the same time, the world’s largest democracy is silent on the genocide of Myanmar’s Rohingya, the region’s worst persecuted minority. It fell to The Gambia to take up in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) the killing of thousands of Rohingya in Myanmar’s Rakhine state in August 2017. UN investigations suggest that at least 10,000 Rohingya may have been killed in the military crackdown, which saw more than 700,000 Rohingya flee Buddhist-majority Myanmar to Bangladesh. Yet CAA provides for citizenship – on the basis of religion - to persecuted Buddhists along with Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. In other words, the refugee seeking migrant must be a non-Muslim from a Muslim-majority nation, which Myanmar is not. Neither is Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is home to the largest proportion of Hindu population – 12.6 per cent – outside India. In recent decades, it is in Sri Lanka that the largest number of Hindus (Tamils) – about 2.55 million – has suffered discrimination, denial of their rights and persecution under the majoritarian Sinhalese. It is in Sri Lanka that the highest number of Hindus (Tamils) was killed during the civil war from 1983 to 2009, which claimed nearly1.9 lakh lives including of non-Tamils; and, it is from Sri Lanka that, after 1971, the largest number of Hindu refugees came to India. Tamil Nadu still has a sizable number of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees. However, the Indian government, though explicitly committed to providing refuge to persecuted Hindus in the region, couldn’t care less about Sri Lankan Hindus. To justify their exclusion on the ground that their persecution was linguistic – and not religious – will not wash because they are Hindus as much as they are Tamils. And, as much as the Hindu, the Muslim is also a persecuted minority under the Sinhalese-Buddhist majority in Sri Lanka. The BJP government has no explanation for this exclusion of minorities (including Hindus) in Sri Lanka and Myanmar. It may well be because the Hindi-Hindutva party has no vote bank in Tamil Nadu; and its polarising Hindu-Muslim politics has been rewarded mainly in the cow belt and is making headway in Bengal. In the eastern state, the success of its divisive agenda depends on targeting Bangladesh and “Bangladeshis” in India. This shift to religion as a basis for citizenship and exclusion of Muslims gives a new, intimidating ring to India’s policy of “neighbours first”. The CAA upturns the very idea of citizenship by rooting it in religion. The CAA, to be followed by the NRC (National Register of Citizens), is about finding people to exclude, not include. The government can give citizenship to anyone and does not need a new law for that. It is to exclude a particular community that the new law has been passed. Such an extension of divisiveness at home to South Asia as a whole is fraught with serious consequences including long-term damage to India’s reputation, its image as a leading power, its culture of diversity and its credentials as a democracy. Even East Asia’s authoritarian regimes with restricted democracy have taken particular care to maintain their non-discriminatory ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious diversity. The CAA is an instrument for tyrannising a minority, especially the poor and persecuted in India and South Asia. In adopting such a law, the government has betrayed India’s long history of providing refuge to the persecuted and displaced from neighbouring countries. Sixty years ago, thousands of Tibetan Buddhists and the Dalai Lama sought refuge in India. During the 1971 war, India was a refuge for lakhs of people from East Pakistan, who returned after the birth of Bangladesh. The India that stood up to the West, including for “liberation of Bangladesh”, and supported struggles against colonialism, imperialism and apartheid was a much poorer country, neither wanted at the world’s high tables nor wooed by the hegemons of the time Regardless of the party in office – Congress, Janata, National Front-Left Front – and the ideological tilt of leaders, be it Indira Gandhi, Morarji Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Rajiv Gandhi or VP Singh, India supported the cause of the oppressed and uprooted elsewhere; and, stood up for peace, freedom and democracy. In grace with history, India not only backed peoples’ struggles abroad but was also a safe haven to those who sought refuge and resisted tyrannies in their home countries. Besides the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans, there were others, too, over the decades - refugees and democracy activists from Iran, Afghanistan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Burma and several African countries, including South Africa. Traditionally, Europe was home to those fleeing persecution. At a time when London and Paris, for example, were the choice of most political exiles, a young BP Koirala came to Calcutta and led Nepal’s struggle for democracy from Indian soil. History is replete with instances of the powerful pull India’s diversity and democracy exerted on the mind of freedom-loving peoples who resisted dictators, discrimination and oppression. Doubtless, that India is changing, perhaps disappearing. But now, the very idea of that India and its values are being religiously destroyed by the state itself. (Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

India: No more refuge for the persecuted

In India resentment over the amended Citizenship law among certain quarters has culminated into a series of protests. Atleast 20 petitions have been fired in the Supreme Court of India till now. A three-judge bench headed by Justice SA Bobde will hear the petition today.

Supreme Court 3 judge bench to hear CAA petition today

Kamal Haasan lodged in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Chennai on Wednesday in a protest march led by students of Madras University. 
&nbsp; 
"I am a student until I die. Our students are made refugees here. This is our responsibility. I have not come here as a politician. I have come here to lend my face as podium and vocal chord as a microphone," he said. 
 
The actor, who has earlier this year established his political party Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), also said that as a political leader it was his duty to stand against CAA. "The man who came to India said, "sare jahan se achcha hindositan hamara ye gulistan hamara" but it is not a gulistan," the actor added.&nbsp; 
 
Universities across the country have been protesting over the violence in Jamia Milia University that took place on Sunday. The clash between Delhi Police and the students left about 100 students injured.&nbsp;

Kamal Haasan lodged in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Chennai on Wednesday in a protest march led by students of Madras University. "I am a student until I die.

Kamal Haasan lodged in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Chennai on Wednesday in a protest march led by students of Madras University. "I am a student until I die. Our students are made refugees here. This is our responsibility. I have not come here as a politician. I have come here to lend my face as podium and vocal chord as a microphone," he said. The actor, who has earlier this year established his political party Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), also said that as a political leader it was his duty to stand against CAA. "The man who came to India said, "sare jahan se achcha hindositan hamara ye gulistan hamara" but it is not a gulistan," the actor added. Universities across the country have been protesting over the violence in Jamia Milia University that took place on Sunday. The clash between Delhi Police and the students left about 100 students injured.

Kamal Haasan joins student protest march in Chennai, says, 'I'm a student until I die'

A total of eight people have been arrested, while 2 cases have been registered in connection with the violence that broke out in Seelampur and Zafarabad areas of New Delhi over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019, Delhi Police said on Wednesday.

"We have a lot of video footage through which people are being identified. Strict action will be taken against those who will be found accused in this case," Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police Alok Kumar said.

Meanwhile, police conducted flag march in Mustafabad and Ghonda areas of the National capital today.

"We want to give a message that strict action will be taken against those who try to disrupt law and order in the area. Section 144 has been imposed. The situation is completely under control and peaceful," Kumar said.

Earlier, RP Meena, the Additional DCP of the North-East Delhi had confirmed the arrest of six people, all of whom were locals, and said that multiple FIRs had been registered in Seelampur, Jafrabad, and Dayalpur areas of the National capital.

Protests escalated in Delhi on Sunday over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, which seeks to grant citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and came to India on or before December 31, 2014.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

A total of eight people have been arrested, while 2 cases have been registered in connection with the violence that broke out in Seelampur and Zafarabad areas of New Delhi over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019, Delhi Police said on Wednesday.

A total of eight people have been arrested, while 2 cases have been registered in connection with the violence that broke out in Seelampur and Zafarabad areas of New Delhi over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019, Delhi Police said on Wednesday. "We have a lot of video footage through which people are being identified. Strict action will be taken against those who will be found accused in this case," Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police Alok Kumar said. Meanwhile, police conducted flag march in Mustafabad and Ghonda areas of the National capital today. "We want to give a message that strict action will be taken against those who try to disrupt law and order in the area. Section 144 has been imposed. The situation is completely under control and peaceful," Kumar said. Earlier, RP Meena, the Additional DCP of the North-East Delhi had confirmed the arrest of six people, all of whom were locals, and said that multiple FIRs had been registered in Seelampur, Jafrabad, and Dayalpur areas of the National capital. Protests escalated in Delhi on Sunday over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, which seeks to grant citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and came to India on or before December 31, 2014.

Anti-CAA protests: 8 arrested for violence in Delhi's Seelampur, Zafarabad areas

With protests erupting against the amended Citizenship Act in different parts of the country, actor and singer Farhan Akhtar on Wednesday announced that he will take part in a demonstration against the law tomorrow.&nbsp; 
 
The actor took to Twitter on Wednesday and said that the time to protest on social media is now over. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/anurag-kashyap-richa-chadha-anubhav-sinha-other-bollywood-celebs-condemn-police-brutality-over-citizenship-law-268472">Also see: Bollywood celebrities who extended their support to the student led&nbsp;anti-CAA protest</a> 
 
"Here`s what you need to know about why these protests are important. See you on the 19th at August Kranti Maidan, Mumbai.&nbsp; 
The time to protest on social media alone is over," read Akhtar`s tweet.

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<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Here’s what you need to know about why these protests are important. See you on the 19th at August Kranti Maidan, Mumbai. The time to protest on social media alone is over. <a href="https://t.co/lwkyMCHk2v">pic.twitter.com/lwkyMCHk2v</a>
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) <a href="https://twitter.com/FarOutAkhtar/status/1207143874138910720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Alongside the tweet, he shared a graphic describing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). 
Other celebrities like Konkona Sen Sharma, Mahesh Bhatt and Sushant Singh have also joined the protests against the amended Citizenship Act.&nbsp;

With protests erupting against the amended Citizenship Act in different parts of the country, actor and singer Farhan Akhtar on Wednesday announced that he will take part in a demonstration against the law tomorrow.

With protests erupting against the amended Citizenship Act in different parts of the country, actor and singer Farhan Akhtar on Wednesday announced that he will take part in a demonstration against the law tomorrow. The actor took to Twitter on Wednesday and said that the time to protest on social media is now over. Also see: Bollywood celebrities who extended their support to the student led anti-CAA protest "Here`s what you need to know about why these protests are important. See you on the 19th at August Kranti Maidan, Mumbai. The time to protest on social media alone is over," read Akhtar`s tweet. Here’s what you need to know about why these protests are important. See you on the 19th at August Kranti Maidan, Mumbai. The time to protest on social media alone is over. pic.twitter.com/lwkyMCHk2v — Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) December 18, 2019 × Alongside the tweet, he shared a graphic describing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Other celebrities like Konkona Sen Sharma, Mahesh Bhatt and Sushant Singh have also joined the protests against the amended Citizenship Act.

Farhan Akhtar to join protest in Mumbai against CAA

The world is watching the violence that has erupted after the passing of Citizenship Act in Indian Parliament. The reactions received from all over the world are not favourable. A UN agency has termed the new law 'fundamentally discriminatory'. #CAAProtest #CAB #CitizenshipLaw

India's new citizenship law sparks protest, gets global responses

BJP by unilaterally announcing NRC has created a situation whereby people are not willing to believe an IOTA of what the government is saying about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). In fact, CAA is being associated with NRC which has not even been conceived on the paper.

The question is whether NRC is an ideological exercise or simple administrative drive to map the population of the country. Absence of clarity on it has led to campus violence across the country and widespread condemnation of the legislative exercise.

The most important aspect of the protest is that they are leaderless. It is for this reason, the government must have a dialogue with people even if it feels that anger is misplaced. It will help the Centre bypass political actors who are stoking violence in the name of rights.

The impression is that Centre wants to turn NRC into an electoral issue which would ultimately lead to harassment of 14 crore Muslims. This argument has become central to the protests cutting across universities in India. CAA instead of accommodating persecuted minorities, has turned into a debate on changing the character of the Constitution. It must be contested and clarified.

Another notable point is that it is not the first time that campus violence has erupted on ideological issues during Modi’s tenure. It has happened thrice before. The only difference between the previous protests and the present outcry is that the latter has galvanised the entire Muslim community.

Rohith Vemula suicide case, JNU Kashmir protest and FTII were used by the Opposition to mobilise opinion against Narendra Modi but in all 3 cases, a strong counter polarisation took place.

TheBJP was able to escape with the issue of nationalism in the case of JNU. In FTII case, it was able to garner support from Bollywood and divide it vertically on ideological lines whereas in the case of Vemula, Narendra Modi’s strong Dalit pitch resulted in the split of Dalit votes in Uttar Pradesh leading to BJP’s sweep in the assembly elections. Many senior politicians ran towards campus to own&nbsp;the campaign. This is missing in the 4th campaign.

None of the mainstream politicians went to Jamia fearing that photographs with the Muslims community would further polarise the debate. Even Priyanka Gandhi went to India Gate and sat on a dharna on the issue of CAA. Rahul Gandhi too extended support only via Twitter and the rest of politicians have chosen to meet the President of India. So, despite the support, mainstream political parties, except Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, have kept a distance from campus protests.&nbsp;

But, BJP must understand that countering Muslim exceptionalism in policies is one thing, and to marginalise them as ‘political’ citizens is another. It is not possible for any nation to have a disgruntled population of 14 crore.

Though, BJP is right in saying that all the decisions were passed by Parliament and kept in public domain from 2016 onwards. The issue even figured in the party’s manifesto, and hence, BJP cannot be blamed for pushing an agenda without letting the world know. But even then, the party needs to nuance the message.&nbsp;

This brings us to the last aspect of the issue which is illegal immigration in the country. Centre will need to readdress it's strategy wherein the policy of identifying illegal immigrants does not turn into a witch hunt. During the infamous Emergency, the family control drive by Congress led to a severe political backlash for Indira Gandhi. Centre needs to be mindful of the issue.&nbsp;

The call for nationwide NRC has even impacted the court-authored drive of NRC in Assam which was born out of Assam Accord authored by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The North East continues to suffer illegal immigration from Bangladesh. The illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya Muslims immigration is a real problem for India. It impacts demography and creates electoral anomalies. Illegal immigrants have changed the shape of constituencies in North East, West Bengal and even deep inside Jharkhand.

But the argument of a national NRC has rattled the minorities. BJP will need to soothe the frayed nerves.&nbsp; 
 
(Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

BJP by unilaterally announcing NRC has created a situation whereby people are not willing to believe an IOTA of what the government is saying about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

BJP by unilaterally announcing NRC has created a situation whereby people are not willing to believe an IOTA of what the government is saying about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). In fact, CAA is being associated with NRC which has not even been conceived on the paper. The question is whether NRC is an ideological exercise or simple administrative drive to map the population of the country. Absence of clarity on it has led to campus violence across the country and widespread condemnation of the legislative exercise. The most important aspect of the protest is that they are leaderless. It is for this reason, the government must have a dialogue with people even if it feels that anger is misplaced. It will help the Centre bypass political actors who are stoking violence in the name of rights. The impression is that Centre wants to turn NRC into an electoral issue which would ultimately lead to harassment of 14 crore Muslims. This argument has become central to the protests cutting across universities in India. CAA instead of accommodating persecuted minorities, has turned into a debate on changing the character of the Constitution. It must be contested and clarified. Another notable point is that it is not the first time that campus violence has erupted on ideological issues during Modi’s tenure. It has happened thrice before. The only difference between the previous protests and the present outcry is that the latter has galvanised the entire Muslim community. Rohith Vemula suicide case, JNU Kashmir protest and FTII were used by the Opposition to mobilise opinion against Narendra Modi but in all 3 cases, a strong counter polarisation took place. TheBJP was able to escape with the issue of nationalism in the case of JNU. In FTII case, it was able to garner support from Bollywood and divide it vertically on ideological lines whereas in the case of Vemula, Narendra Modi’s strong Dalit pitch resulted in the split of Dalit votes in Uttar Pradesh leading to BJP’s sweep in the assembly elections. Many senior politicians ran towards campus to own the campaign. This is missing in the 4th campaign. None of the mainstream politicians went to Jamia fearing that photographs with the Muslims community would further polarise the debate. Even Priyanka Gandhi went to India Gate and sat on a dharna on the issue of CAA. Rahul Gandhi too extended support only via Twitter and the rest of politicians have chosen to meet the President of India. So, despite the support, mainstream political parties, except Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, have kept a distance from campus protests. But, BJP must understand that countering Muslim exceptionalism in policies is one thing, and to marginalise them as ‘political’ citizens is another. It is not possible for any nation to have a disgruntled population of 14 crore. Though, BJP is right in saying that all the decisions were passed by Parliament and kept in public domain from 2016 onwards. The issue even figured in the party’s manifesto, and hence, BJP cannot be blamed for pushing an agenda without letting the world know. But even then, the party needs to nuance the message. This brings us to the last aspect of the issue which is illegal immigration in the country. Centre will need to readdress it's strategy wherein the policy of identifying illegal immigrants does not turn into a witch hunt. During the infamous Emergency, the family control drive by Congress led to a severe political backlash for Indira Gandhi. Centre needs to be mindful of the issue. The call for nationwide NRC has even impacted the court-authored drive of NRC in Assam which was born out of Assam Accord authored by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The North East continues to suffer illegal immigration from Bangladesh. The illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya Muslims immigration is a real problem for India. It impacts demography and creates electoral anomalies. Illegal immigrants have changed the shape of constituencies in North East, West Bengal and even deep inside Jharkhand. But the argument of a national NRC has rattled the minorities. BJP will need to soothe the frayed nerves. (Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

CAA and NRC protests: Addressing concerns of protesters a must for government

The world is watching violent scenes playing out in India and the reaction is not favourable. Many countries have raised concerns over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) while a UN agency calls it 'fundamentally discriminatory'.

On WION Edit, we discuss the implications of the debate and the protests.

The biggest culprit is politics. When you politicise NRC to win an election without consulting the stakeholders, you're asking for trouble.

The NRC exercise is a sensitive one, politics must have been kept out of it. Second, such decisions cannot be imposed. they impact lives.

The protests are proof that the indigenous people in these states were not consulted properly.

When decisions like the amendment in Citizenship Law are taken without consensus, they lead to chaos. Assam has already seen it in the late 70s and early 80s.

And then the Assam accord was signed. Now 34 years later, there are protests again. This exposes the fault lines in Indian politics.

Meanwhile, it is a constitutionally valid right to protest. Dissent, civil disobedience and protests - these are the bedrocks on which Indian democracy was founded and built.

But the protest has a limit and protesters have a responsibility, they cannot and should not resort to violence.

The moment you do that, you are on the wrong side of law and must face action.

Protesters must know they run the risk of being used as proxies by vested interests. Such interests can be political, they can be foreign as well.

Case in point-- the Jamia Millia University protests in Delhi.

The students were protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act and they have every right to do so. But when buses are burnt and public order is disrupted, then the police will step in - it's their job.

Did the police overstep? Did they use more force than was needed? why did they fire teargas in a college library? These are questions that must be thoroughly probed.

The Citizenship Amendment Act and the NRC are serious nuanced issues. They shouldn't be reduced to the police versus protesters situation.&nbsp;

The government that passes acts without due consultation, an opposition that wants to politicise 'sensitive' matters, trigger-happy leaders from all parties - ever too ready to stir the pot with 'volatile' comments, and a country whose economic growth is slipping - this is not a good combination.

Left unchecked, these protests could precipitate India's journey to doom. It's time for the government to be open - to listen to the protesters. It's also time for the courts to step in and take stern, quick decisions.

India's growth story was founded on peace, diversity and co-existence. All the stakeholders, and that includes the public, should keep their emotions in check.&nbsp;

Those who damage public property in the name of protests must be identified and booked. Those who use excessive force in uniform - must also face the music.

The first priority must be restoring public order. Because without peace, there can be no debate, no forward movement.

(Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)&nbsp;

The world is watching violent scenes playing out in India and the reaction is not favourable. Many countries have raised concerns over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) while a UN agency calls it 'fundamentally discriminatory'.

The world is watching violent scenes playing out in India and the reaction is not favourable. Many countries have raised concerns over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) while a UN agency calls it 'fundamentally discriminatory'. On WION Edit, we discuss the implications of the debate and the protests. The biggest culprit is politics. When you politicise NRC to win an election without consulting the stakeholders, you're asking for trouble. The NRC exercise is a sensitive one, politics must have been kept out of it. Second, such decisions cannot be imposed. they impact lives. The protests are proof that the indigenous people in these states were not consulted properly. When decisions like the amendment in Citizenship Law are taken without consensus, they lead to chaos. Assam has already seen it in the late 70s and early 80s. And then the Assam accord was signed. Now 34 years later, there are protests again. This exposes the fault lines in Indian politics. Meanwhile, it is a constitutionally valid right to protest. Dissent, civil disobedience and protests - these are the bedrocks on which Indian democracy was founded and built. But the protest has a limit and protesters have a responsibility, they cannot and should not resort to violence. The moment you do that, you are on the wrong side of law and must face action. Protesters must know they run the risk of being used as proxies by vested interests. Such interests can be political, they can be foreign as well. Case in point-- the Jamia Millia University protests in Delhi. The students were protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act and they have every right to do so. But when buses are burnt and public order is disrupted, then the police will step in - it's their job. Did the police overstep? Did they use more force than was needed? why did they fire teargas in a college library? These are questions that must be thoroughly probed. The Citizenship Amendment Act and the NRC are serious nuanced issues. They shouldn't be reduced to the police versus protesters situation. The government that passes acts without due consultation, an opposition that wants to politicise 'sensitive' matters, trigger-happy leaders from all parties - ever too ready to stir the pot with 'volatile' comments, and a country whose economic growth is slipping - this is not a good combination. Left unchecked, these protests could precipitate India's journey to doom. It's time for the government to be open - to listen to the protesters. It's also time for the courts to step in and take stern, quick decisions. India's growth story was founded on peace, diversity and co-existence. All the stakeholders, and that includes the public, should keep their emotions in check. Those who damage public property in the name of protests must be identified and booked. Those who use excessive force in uniform - must also face the music. The first priority must be restoring public order. Because without peace, there can be no debate, no forward movement. (Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

WION Edit: Without peace, there can be no debate

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