The last few days have seen clashes between tribals and non-tribals in Meghalaya that have resulted in three deaths. The violence started after the Khasi Students’ Union undertook a rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act and for implementing an Inner Line Permit system. In North-East states like Meghalaya, the debate over CAA has taken on tribal versus non-tribal colours. This is an old fault line that had been buried over the decades. But it has resurfaced with CAA, whipping up anxieties and tensions.

This goes to show that in a vast country like India, CAA means different things to different people. While BJP has been projecting it as a move to grant non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan Indian citizenship, in the North-East it has raised fears that tribals will lose control over their land and economy. Meanwhile, Muslims feel that the law indirectly relegates them to second-class status and in combination with the NRC, presents an existential threat.

Add to this the recent Delhi riots and the apparent reluctance to book BJP motor-mouths who have been indulging in hate speech and polarising the social atmosphere. There’s no denying that CAA has engendered massive trust deficit in society. This in turn is leading to all kinds of tensions and violence. India cannot progress this way. Government must calm temperatures, repair the social fabric and backpedal on CAA. That’s the only way forward.