Bollywood stars speak out against ‘Citizenship amendment Bill’

Bollywood celebrities have spoken up against the controversial Indian citizenship law and have come forward in defense of students’ protests that have spread in India.

Bollywood actress and Priyanka chopra’s cousin Parineeti Chopra said, “If this is what’s gonna happen every time a citizen expresses their view, forget #CAB, we should pass a bill and not call our country a democracy anymore! Beating up innocent human beings for speaking their mind? BARBARIC”.

If this is what’s gonna happen everytime a citizen expresses their view, forget #CAB, we should pass a bill and not call our country a democracy anymore! Beating up innocent human beings for speaking their mind? BARBARIC.

— Parineeti Chopra (@ParineetiChopra) December 17, 2019

Actress Huma Qureshi wrote, “This government (Modi govt) has failed the people of this country. See what is happening on the streets. India is protesting…You cannot divide us”.

She also condemned the violence against students and said that citizens have the right to protest peacefully.

This is unreal. We are a secular democracy. This violence that the police have shown in dealing with the students is terrible. Citizens have the right to peacefully protest. @narendramodi @AmitShah Or that is not an option anymore ??

— Huma S Qureshi (@humasqureshi) December 16, 2019

Dia mirza wrote “My mother is a Hindu, my biological father was a Christian, my adopted father – a Muslim. In all official documents, my religion status stays blank. Does religion determine I am an Indian? It never did and I hope it never does.”

My mother is a Hindu, my biological father was a Christian, my adopted father – a Muslim. In all official documents, my religion status stays blank. Does religion determine I am an Indian? It never did and I hope it never does. #OneIndia #India

— Dia Mirza (@deespeak) December 18, 2019

Dabang actress Sonakshi Sinha and daughter of former bollywood actor and now BJP legislator Shatruguan Sinha, shared a photo of India constitution and wrote “This is what we were, what we are and what we MUST remain!”

This is what we were, what we are and what we MUST remain! #neverforget pic.twitter.com/itmacCC9qV

— Sonakshi Sinha (@sonakshisinha) December 17, 2019

On December 9, Indian Parliament has passed the Citizen Amendment Bill (CAB 2019) after getting 311 votes. The bill was passed after a huge debate between the government and the opposition.

Public outburst in India against Anti Muslim Bill

CAB 2019 proposed, Hindus, Christians, Parsis, Sikhs, and Jains will get Indian citizenship. In addition to this, Buddhists living and suffering in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who want to settle in India can get citizenship as well.

The bill got huge criticism from the opposition, as they claimed that the bill victimizes the rights of Muslims based on their religion.

Congress, Shiv Sena, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party started protesting against the bill. The opposition claimed that the bill is violating Indian culture, constitution, secular ethos, and civilization.

BJP calls Rahul Gandhi ‘Rahul Jinnah’ for ‘Muslims appeasement’

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi had torn a copy of the bill into pieces even before the bill was not passed yet, claiming that the bill is not as per the Indian constitution and it opposes rights of freedom fighters. He also claimed his reaction to the bill as similar to Mahatma Gandhi’s reaction at the time of discriminatory citizenship card in South Africa.

Indian Union Muslim League MPs also protested by keeping placards in their hands inside the parliament in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue.

However, Union Home Minister Amit Shah defended and explained his point in detail. He demonstrated that the bill is made as per Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance manifesto.

He said that the bill is not against any minority group.

Amit Shah said, “Under no dimension, the bill is unconstitutional, or is against Article 14.”

He added, “In 1991, the Hindu population was 84% and the Muslim population was 9.8%. In 2011, the Hindu population was 79% and the Muslim population is 14.23% today. We have done no discrimination based on religion and will not do in the future as well.”

The bill was passed after getting the majority of 311 votes in favor and 80 in against it.

It should be remembered that the Union Cabinet had approved this bill on December 4, 2019. Congress had conducted a meeting at Janpath before the introduction of the bill, as they claimed they will oppose the bill to the fullest.