CAA: CITIZEN VERSUS THE STATE
The font of the movement against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act is undoubtedly Shaheen Bagh, a Muslim neighbourhood in south Delhi’s industrial area. Protesters in other cities are taking inspiration from the women who have gathered here every day for weeks to express their opposition to the CAA, among other things. The BJP’s increasingly unhinged tirades against this protest—with party leaders describing peaceful participants as traitors, rapists and infiltrators from Pakistan and Bangladesh—have made Shaheen Bagh a litmus test for the upcoming Delhi election. Home minister Amit Shah commanded Delhi voters to vote with “such anger” on February 8 that it is felt in Shaheen Bagh—a sign, perhaps, that these women, through their decorum and discipline, have succeeded in getting under the government’s skin as no other of the many anti-CAA protests across the country. Perhaps especially because the government has often claimed to have Muslim women on its side.
45
The number of days as of January 28, of the ongoing anti-CAA protest catalysed by hundreds of Muslim women at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi. The protests have been mirrored in several cities
“Desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro saalon ko”
This violent, crude slogan is a particular favourite of the pro-CAA lot. Anurag Thakur, minister of state for finance, led a crowd that was chanting the graphic threat at a recent rally attended by home minister Amit Shah
23
People killed in anti-CAA protests in Uttar Pradesh alone—most reportedly in police firing, making the calls to “shoot the traitors” unnervingly real. In total, 31 had died across India by January 4
30
cities in the US saw anti-CAA protests by Indian-Americans on India’s Republic Day; 2,000 people protested in London the day before
“Laws are not made to frighten and silence people”
Jharkhand chief minister Hemant
Soren recommended that the sedition charges against 3,000 unnamed people who took part in an anti-CAA protest be dropped; 7 Muslim men were named in the FIR
5
The number of states in which JNU student Sharjeel Imam faces sedition charges, after supposedly calling for Assam to be cut off from India. He says he meant a “road blockade”. Imam was arrested on January 28
48
The number of hours for which the BJP’s Kapil Mishra was barred from campaigning after he said: “Pakistan is entering through Shaheen Bagh.”
He isn’t facing charges in any states, though
“These people will enter your homes... pick up your sisters and daughters, rape them and kill them. Today, there is time. Tomorrow Modiji will not come to save you; tomorrow Amit Shah will not come to save you”
BJP MP Parvesh Sharma was at least ticked off by the EC for his outburst
`120 CRORE
Deposited in 73 accounts and used by Kerala-based Popular Front of India (PFI) to finance antiCAA protests, says the Enforcement Directorate. PFI denies allegations as “baseless”