India will face international 'isolation' because of CAA

Former Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon on Friday slammed the government for amending the Citizenship Act, saying India has "isolated" itself through the move and the list of critical voices both at home and abroad is 'pretty' long. Menon said that the perception of India has changed after the citizenship amendment law was passed.

New Delhi: Slamming the government for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), former National Security Adviser and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said that India will face diplomatic isolation itself through the move and the list of critical voices both at home and abroad is "pretty long."

Speaking at an event on Friday where a number of academicians discussed the adverse implications of the contentious law, which has led to nationwide protests, Menon said the perception of India has changed after the law was passed.

"India has isolated itself through the move and the list of critical voices in the international community is also pretty long now. Perception of India has changed in the last few months. Even our friends have been taken aback," Menon said.

Dwelling on the international consequences of the two prolonged challenges of the CAA and the NRC, Menon expressed his concern.

"What we have achieved in the recent past is to hyphenate our (India's) image with Pakistan in a fundamental way, which is an intolerant state," said the former National Security Adviser.

Quoting Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan's remark 'Let them fight among themselves' over CAA and NRC, Menon said, "Global public opinion on India has shifted if you see the international press. It's a self-inflicted goal. If this is how our neighbour friends feel, what must our adversaries feel."

What the world thinks matters more to us now than ever before, he said and asserted that disengagement or going alone is not an option.

Noting that even the Kashmir issue that was dormant at the United Nations since 1971, he further said, "Even the Kashmir issue that was dormant at the United Nations since 1971 had been revived. The issue has been discussed in the United Nations Security Council for the first time in 40 years."

Terming the CAA as Unconstitutional, naturally divisive and International disgrace', he said that what the world thinks matters more to us now than ever before, he said and asserted that disengagement or going alone is not an option.

Others who spoke at the event at Press Club were academicians included Zoya Hasan, Niraja Jayal and Faizan Mustafa among others.