CAA dubbed unconstitutional as hundreds observe ‘black day’

Harshraj Singh
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, January 3

Members of the Muslim community organised a protest to observe “black day” against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) here today. After Friday prayers, protesters wearing black bands and holding black flags staged a protest against Narendra Modi-led Central Government and Yogi Adityanath’s UP Government outside the Jama Masjid at Field Ganj.

While opposing the CAA and NRC, they burnt an effigy of the BJP government and raised slogans in support of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood. Demanding revocation of the CAA, the protesters slammed communal forces for fomenting hatred.

Terming the Act unconstitutional, Punjab Shahi Imam Maulana Habib Ur Rehman Ludhianvi said it was perhaps for the first time since Independence that attempts were being made to murder democracy.

Shahi Imam said instead of holding talks with protesting countrymen, the government was trying to kill democracy by using force. “It seems UP CM Yogi Adityanath did not read history. Daily demonstrations were held for the freedom of the country too. But, the UP Government tried to brutalise innocent people.”

“Those who are committing atrocities on innocent people should remember that we have made sacrifices for the freedom of the country and are ready to make sacrifices again to save the Constitution,” he said. The Shahi Imam later handed over a memorandum to SDM Amarjit Singh Bains.

Divisive move: Bains

Mandi Ahmedgarh: Various Muslim outfits observed ‘black day’ in the region over alleged police atrocities on protesters in UP and other states. Various non-Muslim organisations joined the protest. SAD(A) president Simranjit Singh Mann and LIP chief Simarjit Singh Bains alleged the BJP-led Centre had laid the foundation for the division of the largest democracy in an attempt to establish a Hindu nation. The protest was in response to a call by Shahi Imam. OC

‘Historic blunder’

Ferozepur: Members of the Muslim community held a march at Zira on Friday. Led by PPCC secretary Anwar Hussain, the protesters raised slogans against the Centre. They later handed over a memorandum seeking revocation of the Act to the administration. Hussain said the BJP government was bent on dividing the country on religious lines. “CAA marks a historic blunder of determining citizenship of countrymen on the basis of religion,” he said. OC