LONDON:Indian government faces diplomatic blow from Britain overcontroversial citizen law against Muslims.
A meeting, sponsored by Stephen Timms MP, in the UK Parliament on Mondaydiscussed India’s controversial citizenship law and the countrywideprotests.
Lawyer and legal scholar Gautam Bhatia who is currently involved in theSupreme Court’s challenge to the legislation explained the brazenlydiscriminatory nature of the citizenship amendment act (CAA).
The potential for mass disenfranchisement of Muslims undermines the Indiancitizenship guaranteed by the Constitution said Bhatia.
Several British MPs expressed their concern about the legislation, itsimplications for human rights and potential for mass disenfranchisement ofMuslims, and the situation in India more generally.
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Announcing the UK release of a jury report from the People’s Tribunal onState Action in Uttar Pradesh (India), she noted that it documentedappalling violence against Muslims by the police accompanied by armed thugsaffiliated to the ruling party and that this was a direct response todirections from the Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath who had called for‘revenge’ to be carried out against the Muslim community for protesting.
Earlier on January 16, standing on a stage in the centre of one of India’smost prestigious universities, a firebrand politician looked out at thecheering supporters before him and issued a sharp challenge to PrimeMinister Narendra Modi.
“The idea of India is under threat,” said Kanhaiya Kumar, a leftistpolitician from the northeastern state of Bihar, his voice rising in thecold evening air. “We will not stop. Let the government use force. Let thembring the police.” He paused. “We will rise to prove them wrong. Listen,Modi!”
