Nationalism and Religious Identity:

The Impact of the CAA on Indian Muslims and

Media Portrayal

Akash Bag

Naresh Prajapati

Anwesha Ghosh

 

Abstract: The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), implemented in India in 2019, has been the subject of heated discussion, addressing matters of patriotism and religious affiliation. This paper examines the impact of the CAA on the Muslim population in India and its portrayal in the media. The introduction establishes the background by emphasising the provisions of the act, which speed up granting citizenship to refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who are not of the Muslim faith. This has raised concerns about the statute’s potential for discrimination. The study focuses on comprehending the impact of the CAA on the social, political, and economic position of Indian Muslims, as well as the influence of the media on creating public opinion. The main goal is to examine the social and political consequences of the CAA on Indian Muslims and assess how the media has depicted these impacts. The paper presents the following research inquiries: What impact has the CAA had on the lives of Indian Muslims? What is the influence of media portrayal of the CAA on public opinion and policy discussions? The paper will use a mixed-methods approach, integrating qualitative content analysis of media coverage with quantitative surveys of impacted populations. Examining news articles, editorials, and social media posts will all be part of the content analysis process to find prevailing narratives and biases. This technique will be further used to collect data about Indian Muslim perspectives and experiences with the CAA. The anticipated results indicate that the CAA has led to increased feelings of insecurity and marginalisation among Indian Muslims. Representing this issue in the media has a significant impact, either exacerbating or mitigating its effects. This research is essential because it provides valuable insights into the connections between law, religious identity, and media. It also suggests creating fairer and inclusive policies and media practices.