The Anti-CAA protests were bound to amplify in the face of international attention, but Pro-CAA groups aligned with the ruling party took to the streets on a day PM Modi would ideally have wanted to pass peacefully – the timing is highly suspicious.
The national media is busy trumpeting Modi’s achievement in enhancing US-India ties. Prime Minister Modi’s social media profile is gloating in the glory of President Trump’s mega visit to the country. At the same time, India’s head of state seems to be ignoring the dire state of law and order in the national capital Delhi – the other big news that’s rapidly surfacing on social media.
Indeed, the first impression makes the violence and havoc in Delhi seem detrimental to the PM’s cause and India’s image. But then it is ridiculous to think that the all-powerful Prime Minister has no control over his own cadres. The timing of the violence raises scepticism – could the PM and his closest aide the HM have prevented the violence? Did they even want to prevent the violence?
Trump’s Visit and Modi’s Priorities
Recent turn of events forces one to wonder if the Prime Minister has been just to all the citizens of his country in an unbiased way. PM Modi tweeted an image from the Namaste Trump event, highlighting the unparalleled vibrancy on show. Indeed, the PM overtly relates to celebrations that put India in the global limelight for positive reasons. But on the other hand, he regularly steers clear of addressing issues that have been detrimental to the country’s image internationally.
In fact, PM Modi and President Trump both again raised the issue of Islamic terror and vowed to protect their citizens. However, like Houston’s Howdy Modi event, neither talked about the widespread Islamophobia that’s impacting Muslim citizens of their respective countries. The anti-CAA protests have been peaceful at large. But pro-government media has repeatedly blamed them for all the problems – fake news that attempts to delegitimize the dissent by claiming it to be a Pak-propaganda.
Bias against Citizens?
The protests, led by India’s Muslim population is relentlessly demonized with doctored videos, images and sound-bites. On the other end of the polarization, violence by pro-CAA mobs is effectively morphed and disguised. While Muslim protestors in Uttar Pradesh, a state-led by BJP CM Yogi Adityanath were slapped with lacs in fine and charges of destroying public property, perpetrators from incidents like the JNU violence have strategically vanished in the face of clear evidence.
From the fresh bouts of violence in Delhi, images and footage tells a story where the police are seen in cahoots with one group. A man from the pro-CAA group brandishing a pistol and firing an unconfirmed 8 shots has gone viral. Another footage shows policemen with civilians in plain clothes pelting stones across the road. The Delhi police are also accused of lathi-charging women and children in the last 24 hours. However, the Home Minister Amit Shah, responsible for law and order in Delhi is far away in Ahmedabad celebrating new India’s twisted idea of plurality and inclusivity with the American president.
Modi’s Address – What he said and what it meant?
At the Namaste Trump event, PM Modi talked about India’s rich diversity and unity in that diversity. He said that India treats the entire globe as one family. However, the country has refused even to treat all its citizens as one family in the recent times. Trump commended India as a tolerant, peaceful and democratic country. It seems the US President hasn’t been keeping up to date with the happenings of India in the past few months.
Furthermore, President Trump said that India is a nation that seeks power by setting its people free and unleashing them to chase their dreams. In the current scheme of things, the line leaves one more scared than proud. Finally, PM Modi said that 130 crore Indians are building a new India based on trust. It should worry the Prime Minister that a substantial share of India’s population has completely lost trust in his government and its motives.
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