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Showing posts from January 8, 2020

Is BJP Unaware of the Consequences of CAA Or is it all Well- Strategized?

Not a single day passes when the Modi-Shah govt fails to dominate the news headlines. The Modi govt after it has assumed office has delivered several 'historic' judgements like: Triple talaq, abrogation of   Article 370 ,  Ayodhya judgement   and the recent   Citizenship Amendment Act . One phrase goes true, that is, you can either applaud or criticise the Modi govt but you cannot ignore it. However, even after these key decisions, it seems the Bharatiya Janata Party, has miserably failed to turn the situation in its favour, as the reverse has happened with the Modi Govt, something it had never thought of. The oppositions parties can although rejoice over this, as they were sceptical that the decisions would help BJP increase its popularity and support base. The elections to the three state assembly elections-   Haryana ,   Maharashtra   and   Jharkhand   prove that the ruling party failed to understand the mood of the voters and the judgements it delivered did no good

‘Hum Dekhenge’ controversy: Was Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Anti-Hindu?

Faiz’s most famous poem “Hum Dekhenge” got both the writer and the singer in trouble. The year was 1985. A packed auditorium in Lahore, with more than 50,000 in attendance. It was the first death anniversary of Faiz Ahmed Faiz. A woman dressed in a black saree takes the stage and starts singing the poem. This was followed by an immediate commotion in the crowd. The poem incited the passion of rebellion in the audience. This woman was none other than Iqbal Bano, one of the most beloved singers of Pakistan. “ Hum Dekhenge ”, was written by renowned Pakistani poet, Faiz Ahmed Faiz. As per reports, Iqbal Bano was later banned from singing anywhere in Pakistan. The immortal lines of ‘Hum Dekhenge’ were written in 1979 after the religiously conservative and repressive Zia rose to power through a coup in 1977. Since poetry is considered to be the best language of dissent, through this poem, the poet tried to criticise the dictatorship of former Pakistani general-turned president Zia-

The CAA Narrative is a Watershed Moment for the judiciary not to falter

The recent enactment of the amendments to the Citizenship Act of 1955 has left many very disturbed. The legislation itself is undoubtedly problematic and is when compounded by the linkages with the National Register of Citizens (NRC), creates a sense of fear in a particular community.  The  CAA  is touted as a “fast-track” means of granting citizenship by naturalization to what it identifies as persecuted minorities (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians) from three neighboring countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan). Those belonging to these communities from these countries will not, as per the law, be regarded as “illegal immigrants”. It is arbitrary and violates the right to equality before law enshrined in Article 14 of the  Indian Constitution . It deliberately marginalizes Muslims as a minority community and uses religious identity as the basis for granting citizenship The protests that have followed the  Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) ,