Thousands nationwide have protested against India’s new citizenship law in recent days, facing a brutal police response. The legislation is the proof that Mr Modi’s Hindu nationalist project is not a containable anomaly, but an enterprise that threatens the nation’s very foundations of pluralism and secularism. The prime minister has piously tweeted: “This is the time to maintain peace, unity and brotherhood.” Superficially this is, as the BJP government claims, a law that expands rather than removes rights. It is inherently one of exclusion, which discriminates against Muslims fleeing persecution, and signals that Muslim citizens are not “truly” Indian. Should they arrive in Mr Modi’s country they will be simply illegal immigrants.

Source: The Guardian December 17, 2019 18:31 UTC