Writers to hold protest against CAA on Jan 25

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 22

On January 25, members of the Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha, along with other literary organisations, will hold a peaceful protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) here.

The sabha members condemned the attack on JNU and Jamia Milia Islamia University students. Sahitya Academy award-winner Darshan Buttar and president of Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha said if writers won’t express their views on the issue, it would not give a good message.

“I think it is our moral duty to come out in support of students who have suffered a lot in the universities. They have shown us a way to join this mass movement,” said Buttar.

Noted writer Waryam Singh Sandhu said if writers would not speak now, when would they speak then? “We have just celebrated 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Baba Nanak had given a great message to speak the truth,” said Sandhu.

“I am glad to know that such a step has been taken by intellectuals and I support them in the fight,” the writer said.

Darshan Buttar said the writers felt that nobody was safe in the country. “But we will like to spread a message that even the government is not safe. It’s a big movement now and we support everyone who is against the CAA and the NRC,” he said.

President of the Punjabi Lekhak Sabha Jalandhar Harjinder Singh Atwal said: “The nation is for people and no one can create a divide on the basis of religion or caste. We will join the protest. There are around 200 members of the sabha and we have asked everyone to come on the day of protest,” said Atwal.