WATCH: Visually-challenged Indian student uses Jalib's poetry against Modi govt

Shashi Bhushan Pandey belts out Pakistani poet's Dastur on live television

Tensions in India have reached fever pitch over protests against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government passing a new citizenship law that discriminates against Muslims.

A video of a student activist channelling Pakistani poet Habib Jalib's prose on an Indian television show has gone viral on Twitter.

Habib Jalib' s poetry inspires India's moment of resistance. pic.twitter.com/3Z9ym30iqS

— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) December 24, 2019

The poet who spoke actively against the status quo was jailed several times during his life.

Popularity of Habib Jalib in both Pakistan and India proved that there is no difference between Pakistani dictators and Indian Hitlers https://t.co/SKYO0udQru

— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) December 24, 2019

His work is considered to be revolutionary in nature.

In the footage, visually-challenged Shashi Bhushan Pandey can be seen belting out Jalib's "Dastur."

India beefs up security amid outrage against new law, anger with police

Pandey was among the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University who were thrashed by Delhi Police on November 18.

This is a video of Shashi Bhushan Pandey, the visually challenged JNUSU Councillor who beaten up, from the protest yesterday. He can be seen removing his glasses to show the police he can't see. But they still drag him on. pic.twitter.com/6iNjRRYkwQ

— Anya Shankar (@AnyaShankar) November 19, 2019

Footage of the councillor of the university's students union being rounded up by authorities also went viral. The translation of one of the Pakistani writer's most famous poems is below:

"The light which shines only in palaces. Burns up the joy of the people in the shadows. Derives its strength from others’ weakness. That kind of system, like dawn without light. I refuse to acknowledge, I refuse to accept."
"I am not afraid of execution. Tell the world that I am the martyr.
How can you frighten me with prison walls? This overhanging doom,
this night of ignorance, I refuse to acknowledge, I refuse to accept."

“Flowers are budding on branches”, that’s what you say, “Every cup overflows”, that’s what you say, “Wounds are healing themselves”, that’s what you say, These bare-face lies, this insult to the intelligence, I refuse to acknowledge, I refuse to accept."

"For centuries you have all stolen our peace of mind. But your power over us is coming to an end. Why do you pretend you can cure pain? Even if some claim that you’ve healed them, I refuse to acknowledge, I refuse to accept."

Unrest in India

At least 21 people have been killed during clashes with the police as thousands of people came out on the streets in towns and cities across India to protest, marking the biggest challenge to Modi’s leadership since he first swept to power in 2014.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) aims to fast-track citizenship for persecuted Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Christians who arrived in India before Dec 31, 2014, from Muslim-majority Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Its passing on December 11 triggered demonstrations in the eastern state of Assam, where protesters fear it will make illegal migrants from Bangladesh legal residents.

Elsewhere, critics say the law discriminates against Muslims and is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist agenda. The government denies that.

Activists opposed to the law said they were trying to keep up the momentum and were looking for ways to work around the police clampdown and internet blackouts.