Politics
Amit Shah Counters ‘Anti-Muslim’ Law Claims by Foreign Media: ‘Ask Them…
Amit Shah Counters ‘Anti-Muslim’ Law Claims by Foreign Media: ‘Ask Them…
The controversial regulations enacted by the Narendra Modi government, especially those pertaining to citizenship and religion, have drawn criticism from the international media, to which Union Home Minister Amit Shah has responded. The Citizenship Amendment Act, the repeal of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, and India’s restriction on the Islamic practice of triple talaq have all been the subject of intense scrutiny from international media sources who view these policies as “anti-Muslim.” Shah responded, “Ask foreign media, do they have Triple Talaq, Muslim personal law, and provisions like Article 370 in their country?” in response to the observation in an interview.
The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, which was passed by the Indian Parliament, rendered quick triple talaq illegal and subject to legal penalties. Critics were concerned that the provision that might result in a three-year prison sentence for pronouncing triple talaq could be abused to resolve family disagreements or personal grudges. Some argued that rather than using criminal laws to handle these issues, personal laws and religious traditions should be used. Article 370 was revoked by Presidential Order, as declared by the Indian government on August 5, 2019, under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. This effectively ended Jammu and Kashmir’s special status as the only Muslim-majority state in India. The state was also divided by the government into Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, two distinct Union Territories.
A highly controversial decision, the repeal of Article 370 elicited conflicting responses on a national and international level. Concerns were raised by opponents and opposition parties regarding the way the decision was carried out, claiming that it was done without adequate consultation with the Jammu and Kashmiri people and without their agreement. Protests across the nation were large in response to the Citizenship Amendment Act of 2019, which was criticized for being discriminatory.
Also Read: Arvind Kejriwal Challenges Summons in Sessions Court Over Delhi Excise Policy
For undocumented immigrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who belong to particular religious sects, the CAA offers a route to Indian citizenship. These communities, which have experienced discrimination in these nations because of their religious identity, include Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Hindus. Opponents of the CAA contend that the law violates the secular values contained in the Indian Constitution by specifically barring Muslims from its jurisdiction and connecting citizenship to religious identity.
