Grassroots organisations from the UK opposes the Indian Citizenship Amendment Act and condemns the violent attacks on academic freedom in India

A United Front Coalition of grassroots organisations in the UK, led by the Anti Caste Discrimination Alliance (ACDA), condemns the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Bill, and calls on the Indian government for its repeal.

Protests were held outside the Consulate General of India in Birmingham today on the 11^th January 2020.  Many national and regional organisations are upset at the passing of a controversial bill by the Indian Parliament, which many of them claim will introduce a discriminatory regime of citizenship based on religion and belief, which will disproportionately impact the country’s Muslim minority.

The proposed National Register of Citizens will not discriminate against the Muslims in India by it will make the poor, landless, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes stateless because are unlikely to be able to provide documentary evidence that they are descendants of Indian generation.

Protestors also condemned the violence against students and faculty staff of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, on the 5 January 2020. These events have come in the wake of brutal police violence against students in other universities in India, where peaceful protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act were taking place.

Mr Ravi Kumar, General Secretary of ACDA said: “International condemnation of the brutal violent assaults has highlighted the many attacks taking place on academic freedom in India.”

“This new legislation in India is legally sanctioning discrimination on the basis of belief and religion.  If the authorities in India are truly interested in protecting minorities, then they should demonstrate this by ensuring all of India’s minority communities can live peacefully and enjoy their full rights, including citizenship.  It should not be based on belief or religion.”

Mr Lekh Raj Pall, ACDA said: “In the face of strong opposition to the CAA and NRC, the BJP Government is losing the argument and is resorting to police oppression to put down dissent. This is particularly the case in States governed by the BJP where the death toll of protester has reached 23.”

“In JNU the BJP sponsored thugs have resorted to barbaric acts violence on students and teachers, protesting huge fee hikes, and the Delhi police stand by as mere spectators. The in-action of the BJP Government, police and state-sponsored goondas put be condemned. Democracy in India is under serious threat from Hindutva forces.”