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This programme contains scenes
which some viewers may find
upsetting.
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My name is Alishan Jafri.
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I am a journalist reporting
on hate crimes
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and the rise of extreme politics.
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India is a state where calls
for genocide against Muslims
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are on the rise.
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There is a very direct call
to violence
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to make India a Hindu nation.
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The Prime Minister of this country
should have spoken against it.
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But he does not speak up.
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CROWD CHANTS: Modi! Modi! Modi!
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REPORTER: The man of the moment.
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Prime Minister of India.
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He is the leader
of the world's biggest democracy.
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Narendra Damodardas Modi.
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He came to power promising
a new age of prosperity.
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CHEERING
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But his rule has been marred
by religious turmoil.
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REPORTER: There have been
violent protests
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in opposition to a new
citizenship law,
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which many see as discriminating
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against the nation's
Muslim minority.
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REPORTER: Many in India see this law
as anti-Muslim.
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REPORTER: Massive pelting.
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Massive pelting as of now
is going on.
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This series tells the story
of Narendra Modi's
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troubled relationship
with India's Muslims.
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As a young child, Mr Modi joined
an organisation which believes
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that this is a country
of the Hindus.
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Could he have done more
to prevent violence
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that killed hundreds of Muslims?
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We were hearing that those orders
to let all this happen
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were coming from the top.
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It is obviously a stain
on his reputation.
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There's no way out of that.
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I'm not agree with your analysis.
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I'm not agree with your information.
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From where you have picked up
this type of garbage, I do not know.
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He was cleared
of criminal conspiracy,
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a finding upheld
by India's highest court.
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Agenda was to destroy
Narendra Modi politically.
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The agenda was explicitly political.
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But concerns will not go away.
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Questions remained over Mr Modi's
head for a long time,
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and they remain over him now.
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Narendra Modi has promised
to build a new India.
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But what does that mean for
the millions of people who belong
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to its largest minority?
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This regime wants to disenfranchise
the Muslims
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and make India a Hindu nation.
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HORNS HONK, THEY SHOUT
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Mariam's husband,
Alimuddin, was a Muslim.
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His attackers were Hindu.
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Prior to Modi coming to power,
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there is intercommunal violence
in India.
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Sometimes this involves lynchings
of Muslims, of Hindus, of Sikhs.
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But definitely we can say
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that after 2014
there are increased
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numbers of lynchings
towards the Muslim population.
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Alimuddin's attackers accused him
of trading beef,
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something that had been becoming
increasingly controversial
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under Narendra Modi's rule.
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Hindus consider cows to be sacred.
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REPORTER: Two Muslim women were
beaten, allegedly by the members
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of a Hindu radical group.
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REPORTER: Now, this happened
when the police
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received a tip-off that two women
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on a local train were bringing beef
to sell...
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A large mob dragged 50-year-old
Mohammad Akhlaq Saifi
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out of his home,
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killing him in front of his family
with the equipment he uses for...
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And it began with a speech
that the Prime Minister made.
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Mr Modi said that India
was participating in what he called
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the Pink Revolution.
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The Pink Revolution refers
to the export of beef
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and the sort of bloody images
of meat.
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In response to that, the BJP states
criminalised the possession of beef.
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After that, the violence began.
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Over three and a half years,
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vigilantes would kill 44 people
and injure around 280
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in cow-related violence.
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Most victims were Muslim.
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Few of the attackers
were brought to justice.
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There were calls for Mr Modi
to condemn the violence,
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but he was largely silent.
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His silence is heard by the people
as appreciation.
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It is a clear signal that -
go ahead,
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nothing will be done against you.
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Amid mounting criticism,
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on the day of Alimuddin's murder,
Mr Modi spoke out.
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Then there was
a surprising development.
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REPORTER: Three days after Alimuddin
Ansari was killed by cow vigilantes,
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the first political arrest
in the case, Nityanand Mahato,
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the BJP's district spokesman.
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Police say a video of the incident
shows Mahato dragged Ansari
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out of the van.
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BJP spokesman Nityanand Mahato was
found guilty of Alimuddin's murder
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and sentenced to life in prison.
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But one of Mr Modi's
government ministers helped him
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and the other convicted men
with their legal fees.
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And when they were bailed,
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he welcomed them
with garlands of flowers.
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REPORTER: Jayant Sinha remains
brazen,
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despite outrage over his move
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to welcome and garland the eight
convicts of the 2017 lynching.
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So is there tacit support
by the state for actions like these?
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Mr Sinha said he assisted the men
because they were poor.
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He criticised the way photos of him
with them had been misused,
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but said he would not do it again.
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Over four years later,
the men are still free.
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The clear message is that
this is a Hindu majoritarian country
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and anybody who does anything
or takes any action
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which is against the sentiment
of the Hindus of India
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are going to be targeted.
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If there is evidence
that certain people
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have been guilty of things
like lynching,
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it is not the business
of a political party
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to condone them or felicitate them.
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At the same time, to generalise
from this incident
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to mean that this is the standard
practice in India,
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this is the character of
the BJP, is, to my mind,
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an unwarranted assumption.
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If you look back at it now,
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the lynchings are the beginnings
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of things that became bigger
and bigger.
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They are so disturbing
and horrifying.
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They were the early warning system
of what was coming.
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CROWD CHANTS: Modi! Modi! Modi!
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When Mr Modi ran for a second term
as Prime Minister,
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his brand of Hindu nationalism
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was backed by a record number
of Indian voters.
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His party won the largest majority
it had ever seen.
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India's Prime Minister,
Narendra Modi,
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has secured a second five-year term
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in the country's historic
general election.
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For the first time, the BJP won in
areas which they had NEVER won in.
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You got stupendous victories.
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Modi had really, truly become
a pan-India figure.
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A victory for Mr Modi was
interpreted
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as a mandate
for the muscular nationalism
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that Mr Modi and his government
had been projecting.
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CROWD CHANTS: Modi! Modi! Modi!
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REPORTER: The man of the moment
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who will take oath
of secrecy and office
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for the second time
as Prime Minister of India.
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He was now one of
the most powerful politicians
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the country had ever seen.
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They realise that they can quickly
instigate their agenda.
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The fundamental aim is to Hinduise
the way that India functions
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and irrevocably change
the political, social
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and cultural nature of India.
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Essentially, the gloves are off.
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Mr Modi is definitely trying to make
India a majoritarian country,
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you know, where Hindu primacy
is established.
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I don't think
that there's any doubt about that.
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This regime wants to accommodate
the Hindus
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and basically disenfranchise
the Muslims.
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The idea is to make India
a Hindu nation.
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There is a Hindu population
in India.
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It's more than... Around 80%.
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Major support for BJP
comes from those people,
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those who consider themselves
as Hindu.
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That doesn't mean
anti-Muslim party or anti-Sikh
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or anti-Christian party.
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It is the most centralised
government that has ever
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been run in India.
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There's almost no pushback
to any kind of order
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that comes from Narendra Modi.
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All decision-making
is directly controlled.
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Mr Modi would quickly turn
his attention to the only part
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of India with a Muslim majority.
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I'm Habeel Iqbal.
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I'm a lawyer
and I work in Kashmir.
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Many rumours were going on that
the government are going to change
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Jammu and Kashmir.
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What the politicians were saying
made it clear that something
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sinister is in the offing.
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Kashmir is one of India's
most sensitive areas...
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..marred by years of terrorism
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and part of a bitter conflict
with neighbouring Pakistan.
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For some 70 years,
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special rules had allowed Kashmiris
to run their own affairs.
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But this was unacceptable
to the party in power.
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The BJP's manifestos,
right from the '90s or even earlier,
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had certain particular demands
which were there.
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One was the rescinding
of Article 370,
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which gives special status
to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
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We regard the whole of Kashmir
as a part of India.
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So we said, "Why should we have
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"this Article 370
to keep Kashmir differently?"
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Nine weeks
after Mr Modi's swearing in,
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troops were sent into Kashmir.
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REPORTER: The government approves
sending in 10,000
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additional paramilitary troops
to Jammu and Kashmir.
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REPORTER: The centre is now rushing
about 25,000 more
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paramilitary personnel
to the valley.
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Now, this is all for a massive
security drive to counter terrorism
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and bolster the security
preparedness.
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REPORTER: Major politicians
in the region
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were placed under house arrest.
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Internet and phone services
are completely cut off.
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Strict curfew was put
throughout Kashmir.
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There was a complete
communication blackout.
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Completely, we were cut off
from the outside world.
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The fear and anxiety
was creeping up.
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On the 5th of August, Mr Modi's
government scrapped the arrangement
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that gave Kashmir autonomy
and took direct control.
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REPORTER: India's government has
made a significant move
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to take direct control
of the state of Kashmir.
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Opposition parties have called this
one of the darkest days
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for Indian democracy.
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Now you can say that Jammu and
Kashmir is ruled from New Delhi.
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And a new policy of
"Indianisation" is taking place.
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Three days later,
Mr Modi addressed the nation.
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It was a hugely popular decision
within the country.
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It may have been contested
and there might have been other
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issues which, vis-a-vis relations
with Pakistan,
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but within the country
it was hugely popular.
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But in Kashmir,
the reaction was stark.
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EXPLOSION, PEOPLE SHOUT
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REPORTER: In spite of a curfew,
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hundreds of protesters clashed
with police after Friday prayers.
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The government knew that
there would be huge protests.
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But the response of the state
has been the same
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whenever any protest takes place
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to suppress
and to silence the protesters.
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People were arbitrarily detained.
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They were arresting people
left, right and centre.
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It was like a horror show.
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Nearly 4,000 people were detained
in the first month alone.
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Habeel says he began to hear claims
of beatings and torture
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at the hands of the authorities.
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People had been taken
in the dead of the night
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and they were subjected
to extreme physical torture.
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One guy I met,
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torture was being done on him
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and at the same time,
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a public address system
was kept near him
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so that the entire village
could hear him cry.
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It was the tactic to intimidate
the entire population.
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They don't want the world to see
what is happening in Kashmir.
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The Indian army has vigorously denied
claims of torture.
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But the UN's most senior
human rights expert spoke out.
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I am deeply concerned
about the impact of recent actions
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by the government of India
on the human rights of Kashmiris,
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including restrictions on internet
communication and peaceful assembly
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and the detention of local
political leaders and activists.
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00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:38,680
Kashmir is very important
for Mr Modi
249
00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:42,480
to harness the Hindu vote
in other parts of the country.
250
00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:48,880
Showing that the Kashmiri Muslim
citizens are being controlled,
251
00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:51,840
are being checked, are being shown
their place
252
00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:55,400
is very important for Mr Modi's
political sustenance.
253
00:20:59,120 --> 00:21:02,160
After, you know, 70 years of this
being in a limbo,
254
00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:04,480
Jammu and Kashmir is back
to where it should be.
255
00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:08,640
It's a fully integrated part
of the Indian Union.
256
00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:11,440
NEWSREADER: There is a growing set
of concerns
257
00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:14,040
over a wave of killings
targeting Hindus
258
00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:17,160
in Indian-administered Kashmir.
259
00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:18,840
In the years that followed,
260
00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:22,040
there were incidents
of anti-Hindu violence.
261
00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:25,400
REPORTER: The Indian government
denies
262
00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:27,560
that there's an atmosphere of fear
in Kashmir.
263
00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:30,880
It says its policies are bringing
peace and development.
264
00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:47,040
During his election campaign,
Mr Modi had promised to tackle
265
00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:50,360
a major concern for Hindu
nationalists -
266
00:21:50,360 --> 00:21:53,040
illegal immigration.
267
00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:54,880
He said he would introduce
268
00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:57,800
a national register
of Indian citizens.
269
00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:19,480
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
270
00:22:37,360 --> 00:22:42,160
The NRC was already being tested
in Assam, in a long-term trial
271
00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:44,720
monitored by India's Supreme Court.
272
00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:49,600
For decades, large numbers of Hindus
and Muslims
273
00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:53,000
had migrated here from neighbouring
Bangladesh.
274
00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:59,400
The Muslim migration into Assam
has been for economic reasons.
275
00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:03,240
The Hindu migration was basically
because of religious persecution
276
00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:06,760
and edging out of the minorities
from Bangladesh.
277
00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:11,520
If you want to create
a modern state where citizens
278
00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:14,240
should have all the rights,
so at least you should define
279
00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:15,880
who your citizens are.
280
00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:19,600
In every other country, there is
a national population register.
281
00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:22,880
BJP wanted to do that
and they should do that.
282
00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:24,680
They have all the right.
283
00:23:24,680 --> 00:23:30,600
Some feared what the NRC would mean
for Assam's large Muslim population.
284
00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:36,320
But Mr Modi said it would only
target illegal immigrants.
285
00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:40,400
What it said was, if you could show
documentary evidence
286
00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:46,560
of your ancestors being in the state
of Assam before 1971,
287
00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:49,920
you would be included in this
National Register of Citizens.
288
00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:54,520
If you could not do so,
this would become a problem.
289
00:23:58,120 --> 00:24:00,760
One of those who had to prove
he was Indian
290
00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:03,920
was Muslim rickshaw driver
Nur Hussain.
291
00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:06,800
The authorities said there was also
a problem
292
00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:10,160
with the papers
for Nur's wife, Zahara.
293
00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:12,280
So she was arrested, too.
294
00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:43,560
Nur and Zahara took their children
with them.
295
00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:48,000
They would all spend the next
18 months in a detention centre.
296
00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:54,400
This is not a country that is trying
to manage a refugee problem.
297
00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:57,400
This is a country
that's manufacturing refugees
298
00:25:57,400 --> 00:26:00,040
out of its own population,
you know?
299
00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:01,600
This is incredible.
300
00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:08,120
Under the National Register
of Citizens, 700,000 Muslims
301
00:26:08,120 --> 00:26:11,640
were reportedly declared
illegal immigrants,
302
00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:14,440
but so were more than a million
Hindus.
303
00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:18,480
The government proposed
a controversial amendment
304
00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:23,440
to India's Citizenship Act
that would help solve this problem.
305
00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:27,520
The CAA says that those people
who migrated to India
306
00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:30,600
without documentation
from Afghanistan, Bangladesh
307
00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:33,240
or Pakistan, which are India's
neighbours,
308
00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:35,640
before December 31st, 2014, would be
309
00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:38,000
given citizenship automatically,
310
00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:39,360
unless they were Muslim.
311
00:26:39,360 --> 00:26:45,120
It's meant, purely, in my opinion,
to go after Muslims in this country.
312
00:26:45,120 --> 00:26:48,000
It was not against any particular
community or group.
313
00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:51,320
It was in favour of persecuted
minorities, which includes
314
00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:54,760
Hindus, Sikh, Christians, Buddhists
from Bangladesh,
315
00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:57,080
Pakistan and Afghanistan.
316
00:26:57,080 --> 00:27:00,560
Unfortunately, it was misinterpreted
in some quarters as meaning
317
00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:03,480
that it could lead
to the citizenship of some people
318
00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:05,240
being taken away.
319
00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:08,160
The law never said that anything
can be taken away.
320
00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:11,800
The law spoke about giving
citizenship to people.
321
00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:16,040
Was Mr Modi right in getting this
into parliament
322
00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:18,000
and getting it enacted? Yes.
323
00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:21,320
It is something that was welcomed
all over India.
324
00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:24,600
THEY CHANT
325
00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:27,800
But protesters took to the streets
to voice concern
326
00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:32,320
about the future for Muslims
in Narendra Modi's India.
327
00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:34,760
REPORTER: Thousands gathered
to protest against the bill
328
00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:36,240
in several states in India,
329
00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:38,880
describing it as a discriminatory
legislation
330
00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:41,520
intended to target Muslims.
331
00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:48,520
TRANSLATION: This bill will not harm
even a little bit any minority,
332
00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:52,880
especially our Muslim brothers and
sisters who live in this country,
333
00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:55,520
because this bill only gives
citizenship.
334
00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:57,640
It doesn't take it away
from anybody.
335
00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:01,120
In this bill, they are targeting
a community without naming it.
336
00:28:01,120 --> 00:28:04,080
It violates the basic structure
of the Constitution.
337
00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:06,520
It is divisive and exclusive.
338
00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:10,920
They are directly saying
that all refugees are welcome
339
00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:12,600
except Muslim refugees.
340
00:28:15,800 --> 00:28:20,560
You're just putting
a whole population into insecurity.
341
00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:26,120
So that was the basis on which
these huge protests rose up.
342
00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:31,680
REPORTER: Many in India see this law
as anti-Muslim and say it goes
343
00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:36,040
against the fundamentals of India's
constitution, which says everyone
344
00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:37,800
is equal before the law.
345
00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:44,880
The reaction in the country
was massive.
346
00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:47,000
The stake was very high.
347
00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:49,720
It defined the identity of India.
348
00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:52,600
The very identity, the very nature
349
00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:55,480
of the Indian state was at stake.
350
00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:04,320
In Delhi, students at a prestigious
university
351
00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:08,040
gathered for a protest march
on India's parliament.
352
00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:13,160
All we wanted was one march
to the parliament
353
00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:17,520
to register our protest
against the CAA and the NRC.
354
00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:23,440
I strongly believe that the CAA
can make a lot of Muslims stateless.
355
00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:27,360
That is why, you know,
we've been very vocal.
356
00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:32,440
The police barricaded the road
and, you know, stopped the students
357
00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:34,360
from marching forward.
358
00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:37,760
That is when some students tried
to cross the barricade.
359
00:29:41,560 --> 00:29:42,840
Tear-gas shell is fired,
360
00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:45,560
and it just falls
right in front of me.
361
00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:47,320
I just couldn't breathe.
362
00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:52,760
One of my friends, he was completely
drenched in blood.
363
00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:59,040
We did not expect that a students'
protest would be met out
364
00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:01,560
with such brutality by the police.
365
00:30:05,960 --> 00:30:08,480
It was an unbelievable situation
to be in,
366
00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:11,040
in Delhi, in the heart of capital.
367
00:30:12,760 --> 00:30:14,720
It suddenly seemed like a war zone
now.
368
00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:21,680
The violence prompted
more student protests.
369
00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:27,480
The demonstrations spread.
370
00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:30,440
Then, at the university,
371
00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:32,680
the police decided to move in.
372
00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:36,280
THUDDING, SCREAMING
373
00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:40,240
Suddenly, the police burst inside...
374
00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:44,760
..beating people like anything.
375
00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:49,600
SHOUTING
376
00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:53,160
Students were hiding
under the tables and, you know,
377
00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:56,160
they were shouting for help,
for mercy,
378
00:30:56,160 --> 00:30:59,480
but the police action continued
indiscriminately.
379
00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:01,520
GLASS SHATTERS
380
00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:06,960
SHOUTING CONTINUES
381
00:31:14,600 --> 00:31:17,200
REPORTER: Students try to hide
from the police
382
00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:21,760
and shield themselves
from the tear gas in the air.
383
00:31:21,760 --> 00:31:24,720
In the men's bathroom,
an injured student,
384
00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:28,120
and another one,
who lay unconscious.
385
00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:31,320
Dozens of them were taken
to the local hospital.
386
00:31:31,320 --> 00:31:33,560
Police came inside.
They dragged us all...
387
00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:36,840
They say they were beaten
by the police for protesting
388
00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:39,440
against India's new citizenship law.
389
00:31:43,680 --> 00:31:45,440
They beat up the students.
390
00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:47,680
They vandalised the university,
391
00:31:47,680 --> 00:31:51,240
created an environment of fear and
terror, to teach us a lesson,
392
00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:52,920
to never protest again.
393
00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:59,000
The police said they were trying
to restore law and order.
394
00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:03,040
Their actions led to even
bigger protests.
395
00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:12,600
REPORTER: Today, people marched...
396
00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:16,120
..in Delhi...
397
00:32:16,120 --> 00:32:18,560
..Mumbai...
398
00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:22,640
..Kolkata, against what they see
as a divisive law
399
00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:26,400
that discriminates against Muslim
migrants.
400
00:32:26,400 --> 00:32:28,760
An unprecedented show of dissent
401
00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:32,560
against the country's
Hindu nationalist leadership.
402
00:32:34,440 --> 00:32:36,440
REPORTER: Protests have now
escalated
403
00:32:36,440 --> 00:32:39,600
and it's across the country.
It's now a pan-India agitation.
404
00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:46,360
NEWSREADER: There have been violent
protests in major cities
405
00:32:46,360 --> 00:32:49,400
across India, mostly in opposition
to a new citizenship law,
406
00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:51,560
which many see as discriminating
407
00:32:51,560 --> 00:32:54,560
against the nation's large Muslim
minority.
408
00:32:56,520 --> 00:33:00,080
In Delhi, protesters occupied parts
of the city
409
00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:03,880
and said they'd stay
until the new law was repealed.
410
00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:07,080
Safoora Zargar was among them.
411
00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:15,680
I think more and more people become
aware of the consequences
412
00:33:15,680 --> 00:33:17,320
of the CAA and NRC,
413
00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:22,280
you know, and that is why I feel
that this protest became a movement.
414
00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:27,480
I'm puzzled as to why there should
have been
415
00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:31,240
a significant Muslim protest
in places like Delhi.
416
00:33:31,240 --> 00:33:36,520
They were very much Muslims
who'd been settled in Delhi
417
00:33:36,520 --> 00:33:38,240
for a long, long time.
418
00:33:38,240 --> 00:33:40,200
They were not threatened in any way.
419
00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:43,920
And in my view, this was not
a protest about citizenship.
420
00:33:43,920 --> 00:33:48,400
This was a protest about Muslims
feeling
421
00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:52,080
that they had lost
their foothold
422
00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:54,880
in the political system
over the past...
423
00:33:56,160 --> 00:33:57,560
..seven, eight years.
424
00:34:02,600 --> 00:34:07,360
Hardline Hindu clerics made threats
against the Muslim protesters.
425
00:34:27,720 --> 00:34:31,520
Supporters of Mr Modi held
their own demonstrations.
426
00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:39,880
You had senior BJP politicians
appearing
427
00:34:39,880 --> 00:34:43,240
and threatening the protesters.
428
00:34:43,240 --> 00:34:46,480
As the protests
entered their third month,
429
00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:50,880
Narendra Modi's India had never
seemed so divided.
430
00:34:50,880 --> 00:34:54,160
But support for the embattled
Prime Minister
431
00:34:54,160 --> 00:34:57,600
came from an unexpected quarter.
432
00:34:57,600 --> 00:35:00,920
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
433
00:35:10,040 --> 00:35:12,240
We now invite the dynamic,
434
00:35:12,240 --> 00:35:16,960
dedicated and determined architect
of New India,
435
00:35:16,960 --> 00:35:20,320
Honourable Prime Minister
Shri Narendra Modi
436
00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:22,160
for his welcome remarks.
437
00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:28,480
CHEERING
438
00:35:31,360 --> 00:35:32,800
CHEERING
439
00:35:39,680 --> 00:35:41,360
Friends,
440
00:35:41,360 --> 00:35:44,760
I present to you, my friend...
441
00:35:45,760 --> 00:35:52,400
..India's friend, the President
of the United States of America,
442
00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:54,760
Mr Donald Trump.
443
00:35:54,760 --> 00:35:57,520
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
444
00:35:57,520 --> 00:35:58,560
Namaste, Trump!
445
00:35:59,920 --> 00:36:01,320
Namaste, Trump!
446
00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:06,120
Namaste, namaste.
447
00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:08,960
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
448
00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:12,200
Let me begin by expressing
my profound gratitude
449
00:36:12,200 --> 00:36:14,680
to an exceptional leader,
450
00:36:14,680 --> 00:36:17,160
a great champion of India,
451
00:36:17,160 --> 00:36:19,760
a man who works night and day
452
00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:24,400
for his country, and a man
I am proud to call my true friend,
453
00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:26,120
Prime Minister Modi.
454
00:36:26,120 --> 00:36:28,880
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
455
00:36:28,880 --> 00:36:33,520
Your nation has always been admired
around the Earth as the place
456
00:36:33,520 --> 00:36:37,120
where millions upon millions
of Hindus and Muslims
457
00:36:37,120 --> 00:36:40,320
worship side by side in harmony.
458
00:36:43,360 --> 00:36:46,400
Your unity is an inspiration
to the world.
459
00:36:49,840 --> 00:36:52,720
We love you.
We love you, India, very much.
460
00:36:52,720 --> 00:36:54,480
Thank you. Thank you.
461
00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:57,000
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
462
00:37:03,520 --> 00:37:04,880
LOUD BANG
463
00:37:07,760 --> 00:37:10,960
REPORTER: The situation is
deteriorating as we speak.
464
00:37:10,960 --> 00:37:14,240
Anti and pro-CAA protesters
clashing.
465
00:37:14,240 --> 00:37:16,640
Violence and vandalism continues.
466
00:37:17,600 --> 00:37:20,520
REPORTER: This violence between
anti and pro-CAA protesters
467
00:37:20,520 --> 00:37:22,600
took a turn for the worse.
468
00:37:22,600 --> 00:37:25,000
REPORTER: You can see the situation
is very volatile.
469
00:37:25,000 --> 00:37:27,000
Both the sides are clashing with
each other.
470
00:37:27,000 --> 00:37:29,200
You can see again, massive pelting.
471
00:37:29,200 --> 00:37:32,000
Massive pelting as of now
is going on.
472
00:37:39,840 --> 00:37:42,520
REPORTER: The national capital,
a battleground.
473
00:37:44,640 --> 00:37:48,600
Violent clashes between Hindus
and Muslims have rocked the city.
474
00:38:13,760 --> 00:38:17,400
ANIMATED CONVERSATION
475
00:38:19,680 --> 00:38:22,040
LOUD CRACK, HE CRIES OUT
476
00:39:00,600 --> 00:39:03,920
HE SINGS QUIETLY
477
00:39:21,480 --> 00:39:23,480
RAGGED SINGING
478
00:39:23,480 --> 00:39:24,880
PROTESTER GROANS
479
00:39:24,880 --> 00:39:26,880
POLICEMAN SHOUTS
480
00:41:41,440 --> 00:41:44,680
The video of Faizan's beating
went viral.
481
00:41:48,480 --> 00:41:52,120
This Muslim man was beaten to death
by the police.
482
00:41:52,120 --> 00:41:54,160
Faizan was 23.
483
00:41:56,120 --> 00:41:59,840
When I saw that video,
I really thought,
484
00:41:59,840 --> 00:42:02,520
what a disgusting society we are.
485
00:42:02,520 --> 00:42:05,040
What a disgusting society we are.
486
00:42:09,960 --> 00:42:11,520
EXPLOSION
487
00:42:11,520 --> 00:42:14,840
The violence lasted for six days.
488
00:42:26,560 --> 00:42:29,680
They are meant to protect
all of India's people.
489
00:42:29,680 --> 00:42:33,640
But here, the police are seen
with Hindus throwing
490
00:42:33,640 --> 00:42:35,520
stones towards Muslims.
491
00:42:37,240 --> 00:42:41,400
Videos like these have been emerging
since the violence last week.
492
00:42:51,400 --> 00:42:54,600
500 people were injured
during the riots.
493
00:42:55,760 --> 00:42:58,000
53 were killed.
494
00:43:00,640 --> 00:43:04,120
Two thirds of the dead were
reportedly Muslim.
495
00:43:10,120 --> 00:43:13,640
An investigation by Amnesty
International concluded
496
00:43:13,640 --> 00:43:18,680
that the police committed serious
human rights violations, including
497
00:43:18,680 --> 00:43:23,760
torture and ill treatment,
excessive and arbitrary use of force
498
00:43:23,760 --> 00:43:28,400
on protesters, and active
participation in the violence.
499
00:43:30,240 --> 00:43:34,560
The Amnesty report on the violence
in Delhi showed that the police
500
00:43:34,560 --> 00:43:37,400
did not act as it should have acted.
501
00:43:37,400 --> 00:43:40,600
Where it did act,
it often named the wrong people.
502
00:43:40,600 --> 00:43:46,120
Often the victims were named
as the perpetrators of the violence.
503
00:43:46,120 --> 00:43:50,160
And we called for a proper
investigation into these acts,
504
00:43:50,160 --> 00:43:52,280
which hasn't happened so far.
505
00:43:54,440 --> 00:43:58,280
Delhi police said the Amnesty report
was lopsided,
506
00:43:58,280 --> 00:44:02,440
biased against the police,
and maliciously made a case
507
00:44:02,440 --> 00:44:04,400
of human rights violations.
508
00:44:06,160 --> 00:44:08,040
In the larger scheme of things,
509
00:44:08,040 --> 00:44:12,440
the Delhi riots were not important,
but they were important to the media
510
00:44:12,440 --> 00:44:16,480
because it means less work
and you can get good media footage
511
00:44:16,480 --> 00:44:18,080
just at your doorstep.
512
00:44:21,040 --> 00:44:25,080
No police officers have been charged
over the beatings
513
00:44:25,080 --> 00:44:26,640
of Asim and Faizan.
514
00:44:28,840 --> 00:44:32,240
Delhi police say their investigation
continues.
515
00:44:57,000 --> 00:45:01,880
The police arrested more than 2,000
people over the violence,
516
00:45:01,880 --> 00:45:04,800
both Hindus and Muslims.
517
00:45:04,800 --> 00:45:09,120
And in the weeks that followed,
they launched operations to arrest
518
00:45:09,120 --> 00:45:12,520
those they considered ringleaders
of the riots.
519
00:45:22,240 --> 00:45:25,400
On 10th April, the doorbell rang.
520
00:45:25,400 --> 00:45:27,920
My husband came and he just said,
521
00:45:27,920 --> 00:45:30,720
"Some people have come
to ask you questions."
522
00:45:31,800 --> 00:45:35,880
A group of seven or eight
policemen said, "Pack your bags."
523
00:45:36,960 --> 00:45:39,160
I was not expecting my arrest.
524
00:45:41,240 --> 00:45:42,520
They took me.
525
00:45:46,200 --> 00:45:49,360
And the roads are completely
empty and deserted.
526
00:45:50,600 --> 00:45:52,960
I couldn't see anybody.
527
00:45:52,960 --> 00:45:54,920
That was the scary part of it.
528
00:45:54,920 --> 00:45:57,160
That feeling of being so alone.
529
00:46:00,360 --> 00:46:04,160
There were charges against me,
including hate speech, rioting,
530
00:46:04,160 --> 00:46:06,560
criminal conspiracy,
531
00:46:06,560 --> 00:46:07,800
murder.
532
00:46:07,800 --> 00:46:09,920
Attempt to murder.
533
00:46:09,920 --> 00:46:13,720
The maximum sentence would be
lifetime imprisonment.
534
00:46:19,480 --> 00:46:21,640
This is the Tihar Jail.
535
00:46:24,160 --> 00:46:28,440
India's most-hardened criminals
are kept here.
536
00:46:28,440 --> 00:46:33,080
Muslim student Safoora was arrested
and charged under a new legal
537
00:46:33,080 --> 00:46:35,800
provision in an anti-terrorism law
538
00:46:35,800 --> 00:46:42,040
called the Unlawful
Activities Prevention Act, or UAPA.
539
00:46:42,040 --> 00:46:44,880
The first act of Mr Modi
after becoming Prime Minister
540
00:46:44,880 --> 00:46:49,120
in his second tenure was to make
an amendment in the UAPA
541
00:46:49,120 --> 00:46:52,560
which permitted the government
to declare individual citizens
542
00:46:52,560 --> 00:46:56,520
as terrorists, which was completely
different from organisations
543
00:46:56,520 --> 00:46:58,720
being declared as
terrorist organisations.
544
00:46:58,720 --> 00:47:02,360
Anybody could be declared
a terrorist and be put behind bars
545
00:47:02,360 --> 00:47:06,040
and would not be able to get bail
for a long period of time.
546
00:47:07,560 --> 00:47:10,880
First of all, I was put
into complete isolation.
547
00:47:12,600 --> 00:47:15,280
There's a cell, a very small cell.
548
00:47:17,960 --> 00:47:21,960
I was pregnant
and it was my first baby.
549
00:47:24,040 --> 00:47:27,760
My biggest nightmare was
giving birth in jail.
550
00:47:27,760 --> 00:47:31,600
I couldn't imagine doing it
all alone inside a prison.
551
00:47:33,680 --> 00:47:37,040
Safoora spent 74 days in jail.
552
00:47:40,600 --> 00:47:45,200
Safoora Zargar, the pregnant Jamia
Millia Islamia student, was granted
553
00:47:45,200 --> 00:47:48,600
bail today by the High Court
after the police did not
554
00:47:48,600 --> 00:47:51,480
oppose her bail
on humanitarian grounds.
555
00:47:54,080 --> 00:47:59,120
She is one of 16 Muslims accused
of being key conspirators
556
00:47:59,120 --> 00:48:03,640
in the Delhi riots,
and charged under anti-terror laws.
557
00:48:05,160 --> 00:48:06,280
TOY SQUEAKS
558
00:48:12,760 --> 00:48:16,720
It started like a complete witch
hunt of all those people who were
559
00:48:16,720 --> 00:48:19,400
involved in the anti-CAA protests.
560
00:48:19,400 --> 00:48:22,640
And, you know, to suppress dissent,
to make an example out of us
561
00:48:22,640 --> 00:48:24,800
and to put us behind bars.
562
00:48:24,800 --> 00:48:27,840
I'm very confident that
they will not be able to prove even
563
00:48:27,840 --> 00:48:29,440
one charge against us.
564
00:48:32,920 --> 00:48:34,720
There was CCTV footage,
565
00:48:34,720 --> 00:48:37,360
there were messages,
there were WhatsApp group chats.
566
00:48:37,360 --> 00:48:39,920
On the basis of that,
they got arrested.
567
00:48:39,920 --> 00:48:42,640
And they were people from different
communities,
568
00:48:42,640 --> 00:48:45,240
not from a particular community.
569
00:48:45,240 --> 00:48:52,160
The irony is that when...after
the riots were over, the victims
570
00:48:52,160 --> 00:48:55,600
became the guilty men and women,
571
00:48:55,600 --> 00:48:59,840
and were accused of being
responsible for the riots.
572
00:48:59,840 --> 00:49:03,960
So, many were sent to jail,
and they are still in jail.
573
00:49:16,560 --> 00:49:23,560
By now, India was battling
a new threat - coronavirus.
574
00:49:23,560 --> 00:49:27,080
Strict lockdowns made further protest
impossible.
575
00:49:28,360 --> 00:49:32,080
But enmity between
Hindus and Muslims remained.
576
00:49:53,560 --> 00:49:58,160
I am a journalist reporting
on hate crimes and the rise
577
00:49:58,160 --> 00:50:00,640
of extreme politics.
578
00:50:00,640 --> 00:50:06,280
Mostly my job is to go through
videos of violence and hate speech.
579
00:50:15,040 --> 00:50:20,240
India is a state where calls
for genocide against Muslims
580
00:50:20,240 --> 00:50:21,400
are on the rise.
581
00:50:22,880 --> 00:50:26,720
A colleague was reporting
from the Dharma Sansad,
582
00:50:26,720 --> 00:50:29,760
that is basically Hindu
religious parliament.
583
00:50:31,440 --> 00:50:34,840
What they talked about was
how Muslims should be eradicated
584
00:50:34,840 --> 00:50:36,480
from the face of the earth.
585
00:50:45,040 --> 00:50:48,160
Generally, we come across
10 to 12 videos per week.
586
00:50:48,160 --> 00:50:51,280
Sometimes there are 10 to 12 videos
per day.
587
00:50:51,280 --> 00:50:54,280
These videos spread like wildfire.
588
00:50:54,280 --> 00:50:55,960
They just go viral.
589
00:51:10,520 --> 00:51:14,720
Muslims have got the message that
they should not expect the state
590
00:51:14,720 --> 00:51:15,920
to protect them.
591
00:51:17,560 --> 00:51:22,160
We are talking to each other saying,
"Do you think it will happen?
592
00:51:22,160 --> 00:51:26,560
"Do you think it's really
going to be like Rwanda?"
593
00:51:26,560 --> 00:51:30,000
Why do I speak to you on this film?
594
00:51:30,000 --> 00:51:34,960
Only so that there's a record
somewhere that all of us
595
00:51:34,960 --> 00:51:36,960
didn't agree with this, you know?
596
00:51:36,960 --> 00:51:40,640
But it's not a call for help,
because no help will come.
597
00:51:42,480 --> 00:51:46,200
In June last year,
a BJP spokeswoman made comments
598
00:51:46,200 --> 00:51:50,440
about the Prophet Muhammad on TV
that angered Muslims in India
599
00:51:50,440 --> 00:51:52,120
and around the world.
600
00:51:53,640 --> 00:51:57,520
Two Muslim men killed a Hindu
who they said supported
601
00:51:57,520 --> 00:51:59,440
the politician's comments.
602
00:51:59,440 --> 00:52:03,280
The men were arrested after
they posted a film of the killing
603
00:52:03,280 --> 00:52:06,800
online and made threats
against Mr Modi.
604
00:52:09,040 --> 00:52:12,240
There are extremist groups
from either side.
605
00:52:12,240 --> 00:52:14,320
And because of the provocation
of social media,
606
00:52:14,320 --> 00:52:17,000
that has become a phenomena,
you can say.
607
00:52:17,000 --> 00:52:21,120
Even if there are calls
from Hindu groups, then there
608
00:52:21,120 --> 00:52:22,840
are Muslim groups also.
609
00:52:22,840 --> 00:52:25,600
This is happening from both sides,
and this should be stopped.
610
00:52:25,600 --> 00:52:28,560
We should take action,
whether it's said by Hindus,
611
00:52:28,560 --> 00:52:30,960
whether it's said by Muslims,
whether it's said by Sikhs,
612
00:52:30,960 --> 00:52:34,400
or whoever, there are boundaries
of free speech...
613
00:52:36,120 --> 00:52:37,640
..in India.
614
00:52:37,640 --> 00:52:38,960
And there should be.
615
00:52:38,960 --> 00:52:42,520
I think the larger issue
that we do not promote any form
616
00:52:42,520 --> 00:52:46,440
of extremism has been said
by Mr Modi many times.
617
00:52:54,160 --> 00:52:57,920
The work that many of us do
is very dangerous.
618
00:52:59,360 --> 00:53:03,960
I have received death threats,
but that does not deter me.
619
00:53:06,480 --> 00:53:10,600
Reporting today has become
more risky, more dangerous,
620
00:53:10,600 --> 00:53:14,200
more difficult, and quite frankly,
621
00:53:14,200 --> 00:53:16,360
based on where we are today,
622
00:53:16,360 --> 00:53:18,400
the path looks even rockier.
623
00:53:20,720 --> 00:53:26,280
Today in India, reporters face
violence, intimidation and arrest
624
00:53:26,280 --> 00:53:27,800
for doing their jobs.
625
00:53:31,840 --> 00:53:35,920
Campaigners say press freedom
has declined since Narendra Modi
626
00:53:35,920 --> 00:53:39,520
came to power, and is now in crisis.
627
00:53:43,120 --> 00:53:46,600
He views independent media
as something that is going to do
628
00:53:46,600 --> 00:53:49,920
damage to him and that is hostile
to him.
629
00:53:49,920 --> 00:53:54,320
I think he believes in the politics
of full-spectrum dominance.
630
00:53:55,760 --> 00:54:00,320
From his point of view, throttling
the media, or exercising a high
631
00:54:00,320 --> 00:54:05,040
degree of control over the media,
is essential to his project.
632
00:54:06,560 --> 00:54:11,040
Human rights campaigners say
they are also under attack.
633
00:54:11,040 --> 00:54:15,200
Amnesty in India says it was forced
to suspend operations
634
00:54:15,200 --> 00:54:17,240
by the government.
635
00:54:17,240 --> 00:54:20,920
The government said the group had
broken the law by circumventing
636
00:54:20,920 --> 00:54:23,840
rules around foreign donations.
637
00:54:23,840 --> 00:54:27,400
What he has done, in effect,
is to be able
638
00:54:27,400 --> 00:54:31,000
to shut down a very large part
of civil society in this country.
639
00:54:31,000 --> 00:54:35,440
Thousands of NGOs have shut
after 2015, and it's quite dire.
640
00:54:35,440 --> 00:54:39,240
I don't think that the NGO space,
the civil society space,
641
00:54:39,240 --> 00:54:43,080
has seen such a time ever
in the history of independent India.
642
00:54:44,840 --> 00:54:49,960
When Narendra Nodi came to power
in 2014, India was considered
643
00:54:49,960 --> 00:54:55,840
to be a free country by
the US think-tank Freedom House.
644
00:54:55,840 --> 00:54:58,640
Now it is only partly free.
645
00:55:01,560 --> 00:55:03,600
Our democracy may not be perfect.
646
00:55:05,200 --> 00:55:06,760
But it keeps on improving.
647
00:55:06,760 --> 00:55:12,320
And I think there's enough elbow
room for everybody to have opinions,
648
00:55:12,320 --> 00:55:16,880
whether they are...rational
or otherwise.
649
00:55:21,000 --> 00:55:24,000
Safoora Zargar remains on bail.
650
00:55:26,040 --> 00:55:28,880
They have dehumanised Muslims
in the country.
651
00:55:28,880 --> 00:55:30,800
It is being made very clear -
652
00:55:30,800 --> 00:55:33,880
Muslims will have to live
like second-class citizens.
653
00:55:37,240 --> 00:55:41,840
Kismatun is still fighting
to identify the police officers
654
00:55:41,840 --> 00:55:43,960
who beat her son to death.
655
00:55:55,640 --> 00:55:59,120
The men accused of attacking
Alimuddin Ansari are
656
00:55:59,120 --> 00:56:01,120
still out on bail.
657
00:56:14,440 --> 00:56:18,440
Under Narendra Modi,
India has been transformed.
658
00:56:20,200 --> 00:56:23,360
He remains enormously popular
659
00:56:23,360 --> 00:56:25,160
and hugely divisive.
660
00:56:26,720 --> 00:56:31,520
What was politically incorrect
has now become the consensus.
661
00:56:33,320 --> 00:56:39,960
No longer does a Hindu think
that it is wrong to demand special
662
00:56:39,960 --> 00:56:41,720
rights for Hindus.
663
00:56:43,080 --> 00:56:46,160
Mr Modi has been able
to successfully give voice
664
00:56:46,160 --> 00:56:47,440
to this sentiment.
665
00:56:50,640 --> 00:56:54,320
Muslims in India are in a position
that they've never been before,
666
00:56:54,320 --> 00:56:58,400
and I don't know how it is that
we'll be able to come out of it.
667
00:56:58,400 --> 00:57:03,040
The perception that Mr Modi
is anti-Muslim is widespread.
668
00:57:03,040 --> 00:57:06,240
I don't deny that. It's there.
669
00:57:06,240 --> 00:57:12,560
But I think what is important to
realise is that - is there a single
670
00:57:12,560 --> 00:57:17,680
institutional obstacle
which debars Muslims or gives
671
00:57:17,680 --> 00:57:20,080
Hindus exceptional privilege?
672
00:57:20,080 --> 00:57:22,040
There isn't.
673
00:57:25,120 --> 00:57:30,320
The West is looking at India
as the best way
674
00:57:30,320 --> 00:57:32,080
to balance China.
675
00:57:32,080 --> 00:57:38,680
And that is the reason why they will
not criticise, they will not condemn
676
00:57:38,680 --> 00:57:42,240
most of the decisions
which have been made.
677
00:57:42,240 --> 00:57:46,680
Human rights are not very high
on the list any more
678
00:57:46,680 --> 00:57:49,840
because there is a bigger challenge.
679
00:57:51,640 --> 00:57:56,000
It is important to the West not only
economically but also politically.
680
00:57:56,000 --> 00:57:58,480
Any big conversation
in international affairs,
681
00:57:58,480 --> 00:58:02,240
climate change, global finance,
requires India to be in the room.
682
00:58:02,240 --> 00:58:04,920
There can be no solution
without India.
683
00:58:04,920 --> 00:58:08,800
But it looks to be descending
into some form of authoritarianism
684
00:58:08,800 --> 00:58:11,720
where power is in the hands
of one individual.
685
00:58:11,720 --> 00:58:14,280
I think with a high degree
of certainty, he'll win the next
686
00:58:14,280 --> 00:58:17,120
election, maybe he'll win
the election after that.
687
00:58:17,120 --> 00:58:20,680
And that means for young people
in India that that will be the only
688
00:58:20,680 --> 00:58:21,960
India they know.