Top Indian police officer resigns in protest over controversial religious bill

A top Indian police officer resigned in protest against the parliament’s act of passing a controversial bill that aims to grant Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Christians and people of others faiths fleeing from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan into India–except for Muslims.

The inspector-general of police (IG) for Maharashtra, Abdur Rehman, stepped down from his post as protest against the CAB. Appointed the head of the Maharashtra Human Rights Commission’s investigation wing earlier this year, Rehman left his job as it went against the “religious pluralism” and the “spirit of tolerance” in India.

“The #CitizenshipAmendmentBill2019 is against the basic feature of the Constitution. I condemn this Bill. In civil disobedience I have decided not attend office from tomorrow. I am finally quitting the service,” he tweeted.

The #CitizenshipAmendmentBill2019 is against the basic feature of the Constitution. I condemn this Bill. In civil disobedience I have decided not attend office from tomorrow. I am finally quitting the service.@ndtvindia@IndianExpress #CitizenshipAmendmentBill2019 pic.twitter.com/Z2EtRAcJp4

— Abdur Rahman (@AbdurRahman_IPS) December 11, 2019

Rehman has also advocated against the treatment meted out to Muslims by the Indian government. He has also penned the book “Denial and Deprivation: Indian Muslims after the Sachar Committee and Rangnath Mishra Commission Reports.”

The controversial bill was passed 125-105 by the upper house, after the lower house voted in support of it on Monday. It will be sent to the president to be signed into law, with his approval seen as a formality.

The bill sailed through the lower house with 311 votes in favour and 80 against shortly after midnight on Monday.

It was strongly condemned by Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Foreign Office on Tuesday. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom said it will propose sanctions against senior members of the Indian political leadership if the bill is enacted as law.