What is CAB & NRC? Why everyone is protesting against it?

What is CAB?

The Citizen (Amendment) Act 2009 is an Act of the parliament of India amending the citizenship act of 1955 to given a path to Indian citizenship to illegal migrants who are Hindu, Sikhs, Buddhist, Jain, Parsis, and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Who entered India on or before 31 Dec 2014. It also seeks to relax the requirement of residence in India for citizenship by naturalisation from 11years to 5years from

their migrant. The Act excludes Muslims from such eligibility.

What is NRC?

The National Register of citizens  (NRC) is a register maintained by the government of India containing names & certain relevant information for identification of Indian citizens of Assam state. The register was initially,  specifically made for Assam state. How ever on 20th Nov 2019. Home Minster Amit Shah declared during parliamentary session that the register would be extended to the entire country. The register was first prepared after the 1951 census of India and since then it has not be updated until recently.

Why is NRC & CAB a threat to the constitution, indigenous people and Muslims?

The Narendra Modi government wants to update Indias National Register of citizens and may soon ask every Indian to prove not just their citizenship but even that of their grandparents. The principle of natural justice is that one is innocent until proven guilty. But the NRC exercise presume every indian to be a potential 'illegal immigran' until they can proven otherwise. The union Home Minster pulled no punches when he said the exercise  will weed out "all illegal in filtrators from Indai" a stance the BJP government has maintained since it came to power from the second time.  Muslims who can't prove their citizenship will be just presumed as refugees and given citizenship under the new citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB). Muslims excludes in NRC may continue to live in India as stateless citizens, fulfilling the Sang objective of making muslim second class citizens, officially & legally.

Which states are protesting against CAB & why?

The entire northeast, especially Assam is standing in solidarity against CAB. It will lead to lakhs of Hindus from Bangladesh Swamping indigenous communities, burdening resources and threatening their language, culture and tradition. CAB has 2014 cut off date but protesters say Assam bore the brunt of immigrants from 1951 to 1971, while other states did not and it is unfair to impose more on the state. Protesters say they do not trust the centre and CAB will undo the Assam Accord. Clause 6 of Assam accord relates to constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect, preserve and promote the culture, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.

How is government trying to oppose the people?

While the nation is burning in flames of CAB the protests are going onthroughout the nation. The police on other hands is using all violent means to deal with protesters. The government cut the Internet and other communication systems in Assam and other  states. They employed heavy military in these states. Already 3 individual killed in Assam, injured many and they are continuing to spread the oppression.