“Mera Bharat Mahan, Modi aur Shah se savdhaan,” were the slogans raised by over 1,000 citizens who gathered on 18th December 2019 at Carter Road, Bandra to protest over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). Surrounded by the Mumbai Police to maintain a peaceful protest, students, working youth, middle-aged and senior citizens came out on the streets and raised a strong united voice to compel the government to revoke both their decisions in order to maintain India as a secular country.
Irrespective of religion, caste, sexual, social and economical definitions, protesters stood with placards stating ‘We want Azaadi (Freedom), ‘Why silent our voices? Why ban the internet? Why ask for documents from those who voted for you?’ Students stood in solidarity with their fellow counterparts to protest over the violence by the Delhi police against students of Jamia Millia Islamia University (JMIU), Delhi and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Uttar Pradesh.
What is CAA? How does it affect you?
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which was passed in the Parliament last week, adds religious criteria to India’s citizenship laws. It grants citizenship to all migrants except Muslims. It singles out non-Muslims from three countries – Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The other migrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Parsi and Buddhist community will be granted Indian citizenship in six years even if they entered India illegally. So far 12 years of residence has been the standard eligibility requirement for naturalisation.
Malavika Neurekar, a working youth of Bandra, said, “I am not affected by CAA directly because I am not a Muslim but it is high time that the privileged need to stand up, step out and support those who are affected. Even if we are not affected directly, we need to voice and support those who are in need. Today it is against Muslims, tomorrow it can be against any other religion.”
Students claimed the government is deliberately targeting the Muslims with CAA. Nithya Subramanian, a working youth, said, “The CAA allows citizenship to all migrants except Muslims. It is quite clear that the government is targeting the Muslim community. If they do not want to encourage migrants then do not grant citizenship to anybody irrespective of their religion. Law should be fair for all. How is India secular when you have different laws for one community -Muslims? Why make a law based on religion?”
What is NRC? How does it affect you?
The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is an official record of those who are legal Indian citizens. It seeks to detect any illegal immigrant, regardless of their caste, creed or religion and detain and eventually deport them (send them out of India).
This means if NRC is implemented then every person living in India irrespective of religion will have to procure documents proving they are Indians or their ancestors were from India.
Protesters denounced the NRC claiming it unconstitutional as it will compel every citizen to procure documents proving citizenship. Ayan Khan, ex-alumni of JMIU, said, “NRC will force all of us to procure documents to prove that we live in India and are ancestors are from India. How and why should we do that? We are the same people who voted for a government and now, the government wants to question our citizenship? We will not allow the government to colour our tricolour flag into a saffron flag.”
What happened in Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi?
On the eve of December 15, the Delhi police smashed their way into the main library of New Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia University, firing tear gas shells as scores of terrified students barricaded doors and hid inside bathrooms to protect themselves. Students were protesting against the CAA within the university campus.
Jamia’s Vice-Chancellor (VC) Najma Akhtar reportedly said that the police had entered the campus without permission, injuring around 200 students. The university has a large number of Muslim students.
What is happening around?
This triggered protests across different states as students of various universities in different cities of India and abroad are protesting over the violence against their fellow counterparts.
“Come out and Protest,” appealed students to all the residents of the city. Al-Naseer Zakaria, professor and member of the civic education committee, said, “The government is using force to silence the voices of the youth. All those who are still sitting in your homes should wake up and step out to stand in support.” Poonam Mahadik, a resident of Bandra, said, “Some of us are too busy in our comforts because we think it will not affect us. NRC will compel each and everyone to produce documents so it is high time and we need to come out and protest.”
Image Credit: Raj Lalwani
