"Your silence has...": Amnesty Int writes to PM Modi on CAA-NRC protests

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"Your silence has...": Amnesty Int writes to PM Modi on CAA-NRC protests

Prime Minister, now more than ever, we need you to speak up and take action for these peaceful protestors: Amnesty International

Wednesday February 5, 2020 8:17 PM, ummid.com News Network

Begnaluru: Amnesty International Wednesday wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to protect the right to peaceful protest, and also asked him to end his silence on excessive force used by some states against anti-CAA-NRC-NPR protests.

"From Ahmedabad to Guwahati, people have been rising and peacefully protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. It has been months since they began, and we are yet to hear from you", the Amnesty International wrote in the letter addressed to Modi.

"Your silence has allowed state governments to curb peaceful right to assembly, internet freedom and perpetuated discriminatory detention using arbitrary or colonial laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, National Security Act and Section 144 of India’s Criminal Procedure Code", the rights body said.

"In some states, they have also used excessive force on peaceful protestors – over 5000 people have been detained, 1000 people arrested and at least 30 people killed", it added.

"To make matters worse, the peaceful protestors have been treated with extreme violence and demonisation. They have been publicly threatened to be shot", it said.

"You once said criticism makes a democracy strong and you welcome it – but is this how you treat peaceful protestors? With violence, repression and impunity?" the Amnesty asked.

"Prime Minister, now more than ever, we need you to speak up and take action for these peaceful protestors, many of whom are the country’s youngest citizens. India has the largest youth population and their voices need to be heard, not demonised and ignored", it said.

"The nation of the Republic of India was built on the foundation of peaceful protest. Without dissent and resistance, there would have been no India to speak of", it said.

Protests against CAA-NRC-NPR are being held across India and in various parts of the world since December 12, 2019 when the CAA became a law. Those against raising their voices are even from PM Modi's own BJP.

Citing the infamous "CAA-NRC chronology" as described by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in speeches delivered on various occasions, the critics warn not only of the dire consequences of the CAA-NRC but also expose the hidden motives of the Modi government.

The government however says the CAA is for granting citizenship to persecuted Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis and Buddhists from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and it does not harm anyone in India.

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