The passing of the Citizenship Amendment Act in Parliament in 2019 and the threat of organizing
a National Register of Citizens by the Modi government makes every Muslim a doubtful citizen
until he or she proves otherwise. These policies must be seen with the government’s stated Hindu
nationalist agenda to set new terms and conditions for Muslim citizenship. The Muslim
community’s resistance through large street protests with their emphasis on a civic understanding
of citizenship challenges the state narrative. This paper will explain why these protestors followed
specific strategies and actions in their self-making as citizens.