Protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 continue across India. The Act, which promises citizenship to 130 crore Indians belonging to Hindu, Christian, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Sikh communities, has become a matter of concern for the people residing in India.
While Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and other northeastern states protested against the Act violently, Muslim and Assamese organisations in Hyderabad staged peaceful protests.
One such protest was organised by Jamaat e Islami Hind and Looitporia-Hyderabad Assam Associations at Dharna Chowk, Lower Tank Bund, Indira Park, Hyderabad.
Hundreds of people took part in the protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, demanding immediate withdrawal of the Act. Amjed Ullah Khan, the Spokesperson of the Majlis Bachao Tahreek (MBT,) said, “We Muslims are the people who participated in the freedom struggle and upheld secularism in the country. Our religion teaches us to save our country and its Constitution.”
Chandan Thakur, the President of the Looitporia-Hyderabad Assam Association, said, “We already have the Assam Accord which says that immigrants coming into Assam after 1971 will be identified and deported. The CAA is violating that accord.” He further added, “Our protest is different from that of others in the Country. Our protests are not based on religion. People who speak Assamese are already a minority. It has reduced by 10 per cent according to the Census. In contrast, those who speak the Sylhet dialect of Bengali have increased by 10 per cent. This is a threat to Assamese culture and demography. Our protest is against this.”
Meanwhile, on the night of the 15th of December, students of the Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) and the University of Hyderabad (UoH) also protested against the Act and raised slogans.
They protested against the Central Government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and police officials trying to control the situation.
The UoH decided to conduct a torch rally against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) on the 17th of December on the premises of the University.
Asaduddin Owaisi, the President of the All India Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM,) demanded inquiry against the Delhi Police as he condemned the action taken by the Police against the students of Jamia Millia Islamia university in Delhi.
Mr. Owaisi took to Twitter and said, “In solidarity with the Jamia Milia right now. @DelhiPolice should release all the students in police custody and tell us the number of students injured due to police brutality. An independent judicial inquiry should be set up to investigate into the incident (sic.)”
On the evening of the 15th of December, the Delhi Police arrested as many as 50 JMI students who were protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.
However, the students were released during the early hours of the 16th of December due to the pressure of activists and students protesting across India in their support.
One of the students of JMI took to social media and spoke about how the Delhi Police thrashed the students and denied them medical help.
A Jamia alumnus tells us what this moment is about.https://t.co/CgUlc2e9XP#MustRead #RejectCAB #RejectNRC #NoToCAB #NoToNRC #UniteForJamia #AMURejectsCAB #CitizenshipAmendmentAct #CitizenshipAct pic.twitter.com/lYR7KUAAfn
— Shehla Rashid (@Shehla_Rashid) December 16, 2019
IYC National President Shri @srinivasiyc, @nsui President Shri @Neerajkundan along with several leaders carry out a sit-in protest out the Delhi Police Headquarters right now in condemnation of the violence on #JamiaMilia students. pic.twitter.com/JRa6JfDb7n
— Youth Congress (@IYC) December 15, 2019
Absolutely shocking!! Listen to those slogans being raised at #AMU & #JamiaMilia very carefully, it is a direct call for the ethnic cleansing of Hindus… NOT ACCEPTABLE!!#CABPolitics pic.twitter.com/oF22ZUB9y6
— Priti Gandhi (@MrsGandhi) December 15, 2019
“They have destroyed my home, i am a student. I am not safe in my university too now”
A law student from #JamiaMilia breaks down while leaving hostel amid police brutality.
जिन्हें नाज़ है हिंद पर वो कहाँ हैं!! pic.twitter.com/Dt9GIbnRh5
— All India Mahila Congress (@MahilaCongress) December 16, 2019
This was much needed..
Indian Media has played crucial role into spreading hatred against Muslims. Indian Media is lapdog of Modi and they deserves such kind of humiliation.
Someone wrote Modia 卐 on @aajtak van during #JamiaProtest outside Delhi Police HQ. #JamiaMilia pic.twitter.com/Q6Ded9kmK7
— Md Asif Khan آصِف (@imMAK02) December 15, 2019
This clipping is enough to make anybody’s blood boil!!
Isn’t it appropriate to call them goons of #JamiaMilia ??
pic.twitter.com/aEs8aMO2nj— Seema Choudhary (@Seems3r) December 16, 2019
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 triggered violent protests across India, which left many dead and several injured.
Despite this, the protests in Delhi, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and other regions are still going on.
Stay tuned for further updates.
