Students in Indian universities are standing on the right side of history
While our not-so-secular neighbor was busy debating about the new bill passed by Modi’s government, protests erupted all over the country. Before we dive into the details of the current situation, Let’s introduce you to the bill that has led to this chaotic situation.
Here’s what you need to know about the Citizenship Amendment Bill that has caused students in Indian universities to protest
So, the Hindu nationalist BJP government introduced a bill which is engineered in a way to act as a tool to protect minorities in neighboring countries. The bill aims to give Hindus, Jains, Parsis, Christians, and Sikhs easy access to Indian citizenship.
Different factions in India have been arguing that the exclusion of Muslims from the bill will greatly strain the pluralistic fibre of India, since it has always claimed that it is a secular country.
Amidst all the discussion, protests were initiated by the students of Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi, among other Indian universities
Violence erupted during anti-Citizenship Bill protest held by students of Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/n1mmFZZhZc
— India TV (@indiatvnews) December 15, 2019
This led to a serious action by the Delhi Police which has resulted in loss of life and terrible treatment of students, specifically targeting Muslims
Sources have been reporting that the staff was beaten up and continuous use of tear gas and shelling was used to ensure that the students did not intend to create further problems for the central government.
#CitizenshipAct: Delhi police storm into #JamiaMilia campus, fire tear gas inside, students trapped https://t.co/aLz74785Lf #JamiaProtest
— scroll.in (@scroll_in) December 15, 2019
The situation got more violent as the students of Aligarh Muslim University also joined the cause too. Indian police used ALL sorts of methods to drown the sane voices in India
Shocked to see visuals of brutal attacks on students in Jamia Milia and Aligarh Muslim University.
Every drop of blood spilled will need to be answered for in the days to come.
BJP Govt must reconsider #CAA2019 in the face of widespread, continuous protests.#BJPburningDelhi pic.twitter.com/R1mBNRZyn4
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) December 15, 2019
Videos and photos of Indian police destroying the public property and using tear gas and force against unarmed students were shared all over social media
This is real face of Indian Police.
They used tear gas and force against students of Aligarh Muslim University who were protesting against #CABBill2019 .
Now they are vandalizing bikes and public property. #AligarhMuslimUniversity #JamiaProtest pic.twitter.com/QftIUTSOKl
— Md Asif Khan آصِف (@imMAK02) December 15, 2019
Look at the brutality of UP police on AMU Students. #AligarhMuslimUniversity #CABProtests #AMURejectsCAB#IndiaRejectsCAB#JamiaMilliaIslamia #CitizenshipAmendmentAct #CitizenshipAmendmentBill pic.twitter.com/JNt3gnvllr
— Aligarh Muslim University Journal. (@AMUJournal) December 15, 2019
Visuals from Aligarh Muslim University.
Security Forces throwing stones and using tear gas on AMU students who were protesting against #CABBill2019 .
From #JamiaMilia to AMU, they are trying to muzzle our voice. #JamiaProtest pic.twitter.com/OatBN8mhL5
— Md Asif Khan آصِف (@imMAK02) December 15, 2019
Now, students from all over Indian universities are standing up for students of Jamia Millia Islamia University and Aligarh University
Massive protest at, Punjab University Chandigarh.
against brutality by the Delhi Police on the students of Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University. pic.twitter.com/9VKLsMgAdP— Gabbar 🐯 (@Gabbar0099) December 16, 2019
They are condemning the state-led armed brutality against the Muslim students
Students from IIT-Bombay, AMU, Maulana Azad Urdu Univ Hyd, TISS in Mumbai, Patna Univ, Madras Univ, Jadavpur Univ, Nadwa College in Lucknow, BHU, & Pondy Univ, among others, have come out in solidarity with students of Jamia in a unique student uprising https://t.co/FMjwlDiaih
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) December 16, 2019
Students irrespective of their religion are coming out in support of the Muslim students who are being targeted by the Indian Police
Protest in Pune University against #CitizenshipBill #CAAProtests pic.twitter.com/phkyNruszM
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) December 16, 2019
Savitriben Phule Pune University keeps the flag of resistance, of hope, of unity flying high… Lal Salam comrades, @rut28 and you all… for both the protest and these visuals… #CAAProtests #Modi_Divider_In_Chief #BJPburningIndia #IndiaAgainstBJP pic.twitter.com/XGQsWoIQo8
— Samar (@Samar_Anarya) December 16, 2019
People are highlighting how unarmed students from various Indian universities are at the frontline of the brutality caused by the police
It is not common for the Prime Minister to stumble, if something is going wrong with the people of India, it is harmful to the king of the country, because humans do not listen to humans, God listens to their heart👉 @Real_Pratap#SCSTOBC_Against_CAB#BJPburningIndia #ModiFalls pic.twitter.com/2PxF6ir2J1
— Pratap Yadav ✳️ (@Real_Pratap) December 16, 2019
They are slowly waking up to the fact that their silence on such matters will push their country into fascism
Some of the Indians are still alive #CABProtests #BJPburningIndia pic.twitter.com/MCe5pZtIam
— Kapil (@kapsology) December 16, 2019
The proposed bill and now the current law, citizenship amendment bill is strongly being criticized by various factions of the Indian society. They are asserting that the use of religion as a criterion for citizenship is tainting the secular image of India and is against the idea of modern India which was supposed to build upon the notion of liberty and equality. Indian Muslims are arguing that the law is part of the government’s agenda to marginalize Muslims and it violates secular principles enshrined in the constitution which according to them justifies their protests.
While we here in Pakistan are seeing these protests turn scary, it is a chilling realization that we too need the freedom that we are so strongly hoping for in India.
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Cover image via: indiatvnews.com