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Indian students protest against new citizenship law

Monday, 20 January 2020 11:19 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 20 January 2020 11:26 PM ]

@AFP

Munawar Zaman

Press TV, New Delhi

At New Delhi’s symbolic protest hub Jantar Mantar these young students are worried about the future of their country. For most of them poverty, Education, slowing economy and unemployment are the biggest concerns facing the nation. They say the government must focus on these issues rather than bringing in some law that divides the country and seizes its progress.

On Monday students from several universities marched on New Delhi streets calling on the government to rollback what they call a “vague and communal anti citizenship law”.

Under the banner of ‘Young India against CAA-NRC-NPR’ and Amid a tight police vigil the protestors were carrying placards which read “we stand united against this Law” and chanted slogans “Freedom from the new Citizenship law” and down with communalism while appealing the supreme court to abolish this law.

Since December 11 when the new Citizenship law was passed, protests have shown no signs of abating. Protesters say the ruling BJP is dividing the country on the basis of religion noting that it is dangerous and divisive for the nation.

Muslims fear the new law clubbed with upcoming national register of citizens may be misused to strip away their citizenship saying it a larger conspiracy and a political agenda of the ruling BJP to target Muslims and convert India into a Hindu nation. The ruling BJP vehemently denies the allegations

On December 12 India enacted a controversial citizenship law which eases the path for non-Muslim minorities from the neighboring countries to gain Indian Nationality. The ruling BJP maintains the law has nothing to do with the country’s Muslims instead it grants nationality to persecuted minorities from the neighboring countries.

Critics have however questioned the Muslim exclusion calling it discriminatory law and a deliberate attempt to target the Muslim Minority with a larger political agenda.

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