Delhi may be trying to limp back to normalcy and thankfully, there are no further cases of violence. But after a brief hiatus of four days, sporadic violence seems to have returned to Meghalaya on Friday and as such, there is still no respite from tension. If these are internal disturbances which CAA is causing, over the international horizon, certain developments simultaneously are also taking place which cannot be termed as anything positive for India’s image. It’s really hard to observe, how the time-tested and controversy-free image of the nation as a secular and vibrant democracy, that has been painstakingly built over many decades with great contributions and sacrifices by its people is on the threshold of getting tarnished, just due to a piece of legislation. This week in particular has been rather uncomfortable for India with back-to-back ‘repercussions’ flowing in, and nothing surprising, if there are more.
Early this week, the office of the UN HC for Human Rights has filed an intervention in SC on CAA, expressing interest to play the role of a third-party in a writ petition challenging the Act. It’s necessary to recall that the UN body had been extremely critical of CAA since its coming into force and the ‘ripples’ it is effecting. The essence of all these reprimands can be summed up as- it’s not befitting for a secular nation like India to live with a law which is religiously discriminatory in toto. India, expectedly has reacted by saying that no foreign party can have a ‘say’ on CAA as it pertains to Indian sovereignty, the other way of saying it’s an internal matter which can have no third-party intervention. Even if there may be scope of debates to weigh whether the UN move is justifiable or not, it must be remembered it is the first of its kind action by a UN inter-governmental body, signifying the gravity of post-CAA situation. Meanwhile, in yet another global ‘blow’, a new report from Freedom House, the oldest American organisation devoted to the defence of world democracy says India has made the biggest decline among world’s 25 largest democracies, ‘thanks’ to abrogation of Article 370 in J&K, NRC in Assam and CAA. Delhi riots had already caused a global chorus of concern with sharp reactions coming in from multiple countries, and the latest to join is Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who has minced no words in his criticism and has appealed India through his Tweeter handle to do the needful.
The way international condemnations over CAA ‘consequences’ are hitting hard and in quick succession, will it be too surprising if India is labelled as ‘most hated nation’ in no time? Time to think seriously.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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