Thousands turn out to reject Modi’s CAA
Hyderabad citizens arrive en masse to denounce India’s population laws
TENS of thousands of people participated in the biggest protest yet against India’s proposed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Hyderabad on Saturday.
The Million March against the CAA, National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) drew crowds from the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and surrounding districts.
The three-hour protest was peaceful as roads around Indira Park in the heart of the city were packed with men, women and children carrying Indian flags, banners and placards, raising slogans against the Narendra Modi-led government.
The protest, organised by the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprised 40 Muslim and Dalit organisations.
They brought traffic to a standstill on the main roads at Indira Park and Hussain Sagar lake, which connect the cities.
The usually busy Tank Bund and Lower Tank Bund roads, Telugu Talli Flyover, RTC Cross Roads and other major thoroughfares in Liberty, Himayatnagar, Basheerbagh teemed with slogan-shouting protesters.
Citizens from all walks of life joined hands to participate in the march, so far the biggest protest against the CAA in Hyderabad.
Traders, lawyers, journalists, engineers, students, activists, religious leaders and housewives converged at Dharna Chowk near Indira Park, where the police made elaborate security arrangements.
Shops and businesses were closed in parts of Hyderabad as businessmen and traders turned out to participate in the march.
They were carrying banners and placards with slogans like “We will die but not accept CAA, NRC and NPR” and “United against hate”.
“The real issues are economy, education and health, and not Hindu-Muslim, Pakistan and NRC,” read a banner.
The protesters demanded the Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao announce that the controversial National Population Register would not be carried out in the state.
The protest was originally planned for last week, but the police denied permission.
The JAC approached the high court, which asked the police to consider a fresh application by the organisers.
The protesters, many of them women, gathered at the NTR Stadium and Dharna Chowk in the afternoon.
They recited the national anthem and also offered namaz.
The protesters holding the Tricolour arrived in four wheelers, auto rickshaws and motorbikes while many also arrived walking.
The march was a success despite no mainstream political party being part of it.
Most of the constituents of JAC were smaller socio-religious groups.
However, it looked like the citizens came out irrespective of their political affiliations to speak out in one voice.
The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, a major political force in the city, was not part of the protest.
The body, led by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, approached the police, seeking permission for a march under the banner of United Muslim Action Committee on January 4 or 5.
However, the police denied permission.
JAC convener Mushtaq Malik said the Million March was successful despite the attempts by some elements to scuttle it by circulating rumours on social media since Friday night.
PEOPLE participate in a mammoth protest rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019, National Register of Citizens and National Population Register in Hyderabad on Saturday. |
“CAA is discriminatory against Muslims. We will not accept it,” said Syed Sajid, a student participating in the march
“CAA is not the only issue. The government is going to start NPR, which is nothing but the first step towards NRC,” said Zohra Begum, a housewife holding the national flag.
“Our ancestors decided to remain in India on a call given by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. This is our country. We were born here and will die here,” said another protester. IANS