Historical Background:
India has a lengthy history of religious tensions that extend well before Narendra Modi assumed office as Prime Minister. Events like the 1947 partition of India and subsequent communal riots have contributed to a legacy of distrust and conflict. These historical events have sowed the seeds of religious division and, to some extent, continue to shape perceptions of communal relations.
Controversial Political Measures:
Detractors frequently highlight particular policies and endeavors of the Modi government that exacerbate religious tensions. A noteworthy instance is the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), which critics argue could disproportionately affect the Muslim populace. But the fact of the case is that the Citizenship Amendment Act, passed in December 2019, offers a fast track to Indian citizenship for undocumented migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh who are not Muslims. In all these countries which also share a land border with India, Hindus, Sikhs and other minorities are persecuted in some way or the other. This is why it is important that instead of treating all the immigrants equally, those who face a life or death situation should be prioritized. A Muslim immigrant from Bangladesh isn’t going to lose his life if a few Hindus and Sikhs are prioritized before him, but a Hindu family from Pakistan or a Sikh family from Afghanistan will most likely be killed or converted if they are not provided with an Indian citizenship on a priority basis.
The NRC, which seeks to identify illegal immigrants in the country, has raised concerns about rendering a large number of Muslims stateless. But no Muslim or a Hindu or Sikh for that matter who has legally entered the country has any reason to fear the loss of their citizenship. Why are people saying that Muslims will be affected when the law doesn’t even take the name of the community?
You should only talk about cases where you actually know the Hows and Whys.
The areas around West Bengal and the North-East are a prime focus for the Government in the context of this immigrant law. In recent years due to illegal migration from the Rohingya and other Islamic communities there has been significant demographic imbalance in the region. The North-East tribes which are extremely passionate and violent about their land will not be accommodating to these migrants. In Bengal, these migrants and the demographic shift they have caused is used to influence election results and elect leaders who may not have the best interests of Indians at heart but these illegal migrants.
Blamed for everything
While leaders should take blame for every failure and let their subordinates take the credit for every achievement, in recent times everything that happens in the country is one way or the other attempted to blame on PM Modi. Every time a Muslim is killed or attacked it is portrayed that somehow PM Modi is personally trying to kill each and every Muslim person in India.
Media and Public Discourse:
The role of media and public discourse cannot be disregarded in this context. The media plays a pivotal role in shaping public opinion, and at times, it's accused of sensationalizing incidents related to Hindu-Muslim conflicts. This, consequently, can shape the public's perception of the government's involvement in such conflicts.
In an era of instant news and social media, the media's coverage of communal incidents can significantly influence public opinion. Sensationalized reporting can exacerbate tensions, while the lack of coverage of certain events may lead to accusations of bias. Both the international and domestic media play a crucial role in shaping how the world views India's communal relations and the government's role in these matters.
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