The government hasn’t notified the CAA yet. That and the excess use of force shows they are on a backfoot. Even if it is marginally. It is probably a good time to amp up the pressure but only with the protests but also with a few other things –
1. File a good number of complaints against police action in Jamia and AMU with the National Human Rights Commissions. Rally with member of Parliaments and member of Legislative Assemblies who are opposed to the CAA to file complaints too. This might not ensure immediate enquiry or even justice but will keep building the pressure. Mass complaints of human rights violations also garner attention of international press.
2. The economy is at its weakest. As unfortunate as that is, it also provides an opportunity to file a large number of RTIs to find out about release, deployment and expenditure of government funds. Use the machinations available to trace the money that has been taken out of banks and have just been said to have spent on social welfare schemes.
3. Press the government, through other MPs to disclose the money they have estimated would be required for implementing NRC and CAA; the source that they propose the money would come from and how that would affect other essential or existing programs, especially in a resource crunched economy.
4. Work with regional political leaders, legal teams of political parties who have opposed the Act and strengthen their stand with data and information.
5. Organise and maintain a band of social media team to keep track of what is coming out of BJP and affiliates, keep record and make those available. Run a structured propaganda, albeit for a good cause. Thanks them later that they taught us this lesson.
6. Support independent media. Use academics and scholars outside of country to highlight these issues over and over again. DO not let this die down in international view.
Split into divisions within the resistance and press on. They want us to focus on something and divert from others. There are enough brains and hands amongst us to focus on all of these.
