The latest move- the Citizenship Amendment Bill- now an official standing in the country, has, without a doubt, left a better part of the country at odds with the decision taken by the government. To a country no stranger to issues and challenges already flowering in the domain of employment, rather the lack of it and sluggish growth of the economy, in a year where there have already been concerns about the falling standing of the rupee, the Citizenship Amendment Bill was another controversial issue.
Then even as the Citizenship Amendment Bill has a great positive for supporting those who are seeking Indian citizenship, fleeing persecution in their respective countries (India’s neighboring nations), there’s always the scope for an open discussion- whether the bill is, in fact, anti-Muslim or not?
While we can debate, opine, express and even shed a tear for the plight of those who haven’t been considered in the bill and have, therefore, expressed resentment, the final stance of the government has already been taken even as protests linger on in different parts of the country.
Much of the country, including the national capital, has expressed a clear disconsolation against the bill, which found comprehensive support earlier last week in the Rajya Sabha, where it was passed. We’ve already heard news about the widespread vitriol that emerged against the bill, with protests raging particularly in the Eastern region. After the North-eastern states, Assam and other regions have voiced their concerns about a bill which doesn’t seem all too enterprising and encouraging particularly where keeping the interest of every community is concerned, there were concerns right in the heart of the capital city.
It was only a few hours ago where widespread protests from the Jamia University students in New Delhi led the police to clash finding vehement opposition from the youngster in bitter opposition to the bill.
In fact, the episode was so bitter that according to the NDTV, “The top court will hear the case tomorrow. The police barged into the Jamia campus, rounded up students and detained 100. They were accused of beating and abusing students.”
And as if that wasn’t enough to express the widespread discontent with the government’s latest standing, the Jamia students found support from currently protesting Maulana Azad Urdu University and the Benaras Hindu University (BHU) students. This only amplifies the current common notion that even as the interests of six communities have been looked after, including- Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Sikhs, it is only the Muslims that haven’t been considered in the recent amendment to the Citizenship Bill.
As a matter of fact, the Jamia Milia protests are continuing at this point. In response to the current embitterment that has arisen from the situation, Irfan Pathan- former cricketer, current cricket commentator- has spoken about the ongoing issue, sharing his feelings and emotions about the suffering students.
He was quoted by the NDTV, ” Political blame game will go on forever but I and our country is concerned about the students of Jamia Millia.”
Furthermore, here are other developments that are taking place as of now, as told by NDTV:
Students at Hyderabad’s Maulana Azad Urdu University and the Banaras Hindu University held protest marches in solidarity with Jamia students on Sunday. At Kolkata’s Jadavpur University, the students held a midnight march through the neighborhood. Students of the Maulana Azad Urdu University also demanded that their exams be postponed.
The controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. It was passed earlier this week, after a heated debate in parliament, triggering massive protests in the northeast states and West Bengal.
All of that said, while Irfan Pathan has shared his concern about the plight of the currently protesting students, so far, no other cricketer or famous celebrity has come forward to extend support toward the tense situation.