Indian National Congress (INC) leaders and famous film director and producer Mahesh Bhatt joined the protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.
INC leader Sanjay Jha and Mr. Bhatt addressed a meeting in Mumbai and took a pledge not to support the Act. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which provides citizenship to refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, was implemented on the 13th of December.
Mr. Bhatt said, “We believe Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is discriminatory and it violates the constitutional values. We don’t accept this bill and if it becomes a law we shall boycott its execution. We pledge not to submit any documents if asked to prove our citizenship.”
Mr. Bhatt took to Twitter and said, “We the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a sovereign socialist secular democratic. (At Ambedkar’s abode. After reading the Preamble of our Constitution.)”
Apart from INC leaders and celebrities from the film industry, parties like Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK,) the All India Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM,) the Trinamool Congress (TMC,) the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and others are also against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.
Many actors such as Richa Chadha, Swara Bhasker, Sidharth, Pooja Bhatt , directors like Anubhav Sinha, political leaders and others took to Twitter and shared their opinions about the Act.
This is heartbreaking… In which civilized country is this normal ? Why such excessive force ? Who tear gases students studying inside a library? Nothing justifies this. https://t.co/fK2kX17Qqg
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) December 16, 2019
This is heartbreaking… In which civilized country is this normal ? Why such excessive force ? Who tear gases students studying inside a library? Nothing justifies this. https://t.co/fK2kX17Qqg
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) December 16, 2019
Some Indians may be identified as Muslim by their clothes, just as some others may be identified as bigots by their words. https://t.co/YCVVwCoV45
— Sonia Faleiro (@soniafaleiro) December 15, 2019
Some bureaucrat??? Some Senior Cop??? One???? Just fuckinh ONE??????
— Anubhav Sinha (@anubhavsinha) December 15, 2019
These two are not Krishna and Arjuna. They are Shakuni and Duryodhana.
Stop attacking #universities! Stop assaulting #students! #JamiaMilia #JamiaProtest— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) December 16, 2019
It’s quite telling that the Indian Muslims, for the first time in the recent history of the country are out protesting in such large numbers. They know what they will get by doing this is not justice, but at best life long harassment, and at worst – bullets. #JamiaMilia
— Ashwaq Masoodi (@ashwaqM) December 16, 2019
Meanwhile, protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 in many regions across India, especially Muslim universities, are underway.
Stay tuned for further updates.