Image Courtesy: republicworld.com

Amid the unexpected massive protests going on in the country against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), a top official of the Central government has now said that that the government is ready to accept suggestions, if any, from people protesting against the recently enacted legislation. This has however not deterred states under BJP rule like Uttar  Pradesh to launch a brute crackdown against peaceful protesters. The Delhi police directly under the Central Govt too continued with its brutal actions against peaceful protesters! 

"We are open to receive suggestions, if any, from anyone on the CAA. We are also trying to remove doubts of the people about the CAA through various ways," the official said.

The Press Trust of India that reported the same on Twitter, also tweeted that the official said that anyone born in India before 1987 or whose parents were born before 1987 are bonafide Indian citizens according to the law and need not worry due to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019 or a possible countrywide National Register of Citizens (NRC). 

In the wake of the protests, the government also released a list of FAQs to clarify the Act.

https://twitter.com/kishanreddybjp/status/1207942623169613825

Sharing a few FAQs on the #CitizenshipAmendmentAct2019.
Hope this clears the air and puts an end to the misadventure being resorted to by those running online campaigns and instigating students against democratic means of protesting, rendering their precious time ineffective.
8/8 pic.twitter.com/ITqji2YUK9

— G Kishan Reddy (@kishanreddybjp) December 20, 2019

However, in the wake of the increasing protests the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from its official Twitter handle deleted a tweet about a comment by Amit Shah that was about the NRC.

Also, Chirag Paswan, President of the Lok Janshakti Party and an ally of the BJP who had backed the CAA in Parliament today, after noting the nationwide protests against the Act tweeted saying that the government had failed to dispel the confusion in a significant section of the people in the country.

https://twitter.com/ichiragpaswan/status/1207992001615937537

देश के हालात पर कल पार्टी ने चर्चा की और इसकी जानकारी गृह विभाग को भी दी गयी है।जिस तरह का CAB और NRC को जोड़ कर प्रदर्शन देश में हो रहा है उससे साफ़ है कि देश के अहम वर्ग में फैले भ्रम को सरकार दूर करने में विफल रही है।

— Chirag Paswan (@ichiragpaswan) December 20, 2019

He also wrote to Amit Shah and PM Modi requesting them to hold a meeting with allies to discuss the further course of things with regards to the CAA. In his letter he said that even the allies of the BJP held different views than that of the party and because the Act will have far reaching effects on the country, they should hold a talk to calm tensions of all allies and protestors and present a unanimous front.

https://twitter.com/ichiragpaswan/status/1207994933262422018

लोकसभा और राज्यसभा में बिल पास हो जाने के बाद भी देश में इस बिल को लेकर असंतोष बरक़रार है।एसी परस्तिथि उत्पन्न ना हो इसलियी लोक जनशक्ति पार्टी ने इस विधेयक को सदन में लाने से पहले सहयोगियों से विस्तृत चर्चा करने का आग्रह सरकार से किया था। pic.twitter.com/BOuw51GPjf

— Chirag Paswan (@ichiragpaswan) December 20, 2019

Even in Assam, BJP leaders Prashant Phukan and Padma Hazarika along with 25 other MLAs demanded CM Sonowal to fulfil the demands of the Assamese people following the unrest about the CAA and NRC.

Given the widespread protests, the disappearance of the tweet from BJP’s Twitter handle, asking for suggestions from the people, the resignation of top BJP members from their posts in Assam and now allies requesting the BJP to take a relook at the implementation of the CAA and the NRC, what will the next step of the government be?

Related:

BJP deletes Amit Shah’s comment about NRC from its Twitter handle
BJP in Assam coming to its senses?
175 arrested, over 1400 detained: Assam gov't says 'All is Well'
International condemnation for CAA, travel advisories issued