A few years ago after Narendra Modi became PM, and there was an uproar from the Intolerance Gang and Award Wapsi from the Congress/ leftist brigade, I wrote an article on Manufactured Dissent, which went viral. Today, I am compelled to write about the 2.0 version.

It is incredible that a law on the Citizen Amendment Bill, which gives persecuted minorities living in India, from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan, citizenship rights, has become another bone of contention by the same group. Some Indian Muslim leaders, the Congress and other opposition parties don’t want Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and others who have been persecuted in the three neighbouring countries, and have been living in limbo for years in refugee camps to get citizenship. These people are not allowed to work or vote and have been discriminated against just because they came from neighbouring countries as persecuted minorities. So what’s wrong with the move? Why the furore and angst. Why the endless protests from the opposition, and the very same political parties that when in power had said it would be a humanitarian gesture and must be done?

It seems this is just protest for protests sake and to simply oppose the ruling party, even when it is doing something that any sane individual would say is a clear case of righting a wrong.

It was a Congress demand since the days of Nehru’s time and subsequently by many Congress PMs including Manmohan Singh but for some reasons, possibly vote bank, it was never acted upon.

The moment the present government passed it as a Bill in parliament, it suddenly became an issue because Muslims from the three Islamic countries named were not on the list as persecuted minorities. How can Muslims be a minority in three Islamic nations?

This boggles the mind. Why would Muslims from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh want to come as persecuted minorities into India. Are these countries which are proudly Islamic not giving them their rights? If so why should it be India’s problem?

If the Islam practiced in Pakistan is denigrating Ahmediyas, Shias and openly discriminating against them, is it India’s problem? So why are Indian Muslims, whose population in India is around 220 million Muslims, feeling upset. If India wants to repatriate illegal Bangladeshi Muslims to Bangladesh, why is it a problem with Indian Leftists, the Congress and Muslims?

How can they possibly think this is a plan to disenfranchise Indian Muslims, who have been part of the fabric of India since 1947. This just does not make sense and proves that there are darker forces instigating the populace to create mayhem, destroy government infrastructure and protest endlessly. These forces don’t want India to progress. They speak the language of Pakistan and spread wild rumours just as Pakistan does. Such forces must be stopped at any cost as they are using the freedoms they are given in a democracy to derail it. They don’t care what happens to the India, as long as they can divide it and ultimately get their power back.

What a dangerous and cynical game they play. Every sane Indian, no matter the caste, religion or class must raise their voices against such forces. It is time we all stood up for what is right and good for our country and not let such devious power plays derail us.