Controversial citizenship policies in India.
Home Minister Amit Shah last week said the nationally ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will aim to implement a National Register of Citizens (NRC) across India. Authorities in August released an updated NRC for Assam in the north-east that excludes nearly 2 million of the state's residents, most of whom are probably Muslims with origins in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party wants to reintroduce into parliament a Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), designed to facilitate the claiming of Indian citizenship by non-Muslim illegal migrants from neighbouring South Asian countries.
Despite Modi's assurances that the NRC will not involve deportations to Bangladesh, the matter will put strain on Delhi-Dhaka ties.
The CAB will prompt popular protests across the north-east.
India's Muslims will likely feel increasingly vulnerable and, in parts of the country, could be susceptible to mob violence.
