> Many observers believe the register’s purpose is to disenfranchise Muslim voters by effectively classifying them as illegal immigrants. Importantly, Muslims disproportionately lack documentation attesting to their place of birth. Undocumented non-Muslims, meanwhile, would be eligible for citizenship through a fast-track process under the CAA.
Who are these observers? What is their standing? Have Indian muslims been denied citizenship rights? Factually, more Indian Hindu residents have been left off of NRC due to lack of documentation than Muslims. FreedomHouse doesn't represent a balanced opinion here. People, irrespective of their religion, are allowed to acquire Indian citizenship after 12 years. CAA makes special provisions for some religious minorities. Thats all.
More importantly on the topic of NRC, the current government did not invent it. This had been in the works for years before the BJP became the ruling party. Critics of India even criticized the government for Aadhar as "infringing "upon civil liberties. The same critics have failed to mention the benefits that these systems have yielded Indian citizens irrespective of religion.
That said, given the shit show that the US "democracy" has seen for the past 4 years, I am surprised to see FreedomHouse listing the US as a "free" democracy where the president and the ruling Republican party were not only responsible for spreading voter misinformation, opposing a free and fair election, causing an insurrection and failed to hold anybody accountable for it.