Women take out protest march against CAA

Tribune Reporters

Ludhiana, January 19

A large number of women took out a massive protest march today against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and also presented a pledge to Shahi Imam of Punjab Maulana Habib-ur-Rahman.

The protesting women, led by Naib Shahi Imam Maulana Mohammed Usman, marched through Brown Road, Subhani Building, Shahpur Road to Jama Masjid.

Speaking at the occasion, student leader of Punjab University Kanupriya, Muslim women activists Rehnuma Khatoon, Nasreen Sultana and Navdeep Kaur made scathing attacks on the Modi government, saying divisive forces were once again out to divide the nation in the name of religion.

“Indian women will fight along with their male counterparts to foil the evil designs of the NDA government which has made its own citizens as foreign nationals,” they said.

“Linking refugees to any particular religion was against the Constitution of India and the attempt to murder democracy in the name of citizenship would be foiled,” they said.

“It is unfortunate that even though in power, the BJP leaders have been forced to hold rallies across the length and breadth of the country to justify CAA while they were hesitant to talk to people,” said the Shahi Iman.

Unions come in support

Various labour, farmer, employee and minority unions also organised a protest against CAA. A two-minute silence was observed by all who gathered today as a tribute to those who laid down their lives for the freedom of the country. Union leader Tarsem Jodhan while addressing the gathering said: “CAA is an attempt to keep the Muslim community aloof of the Indian citizenship and send them back to Pakistan and Bangladesh. There is no need of CAA in the country which is secular and respect all religions.”

Rally at Dana Mandi

A rally in favour of CAA was held here today at Dana Mandi. People in large number gathered here and have their stamp to the amendment. Senior advocate Monika Arora said people from three neighbouring Islamic countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who had come to India by December 31, 2014, would be given citizenship. This amendment was to provide citizenship to people who had come from these countries and not to take back citizenship from anyone, she said.

Pro-and-anti-citizenship law protests in Khanna

Khanna: Both pro-and-anti citizenship law protesters held rallies in Khanna on Sunday. The Sanjha Manch of various organisations held anti-CAA rally under the banner of ‘Samvidhan Bachao, Desh Bachao Manch’ near Khanna bus stand in which a large number of protesters participated. Speakers at the occasion flayed the Central Government for bringing divisive rules and termed these laws as black laws. They alleged that the country’s economy was declining day by day but the Centre was bringing such laws to divert the attention of people from real issues. The rally flayed the action of the Delhi Police against JNU students and demanded that the real culprits should be brought to book without any delay to save the democracy of the country. The rally also hailed the decision of the Punjab government to pass a Bill against CAA. Meanwhile, the RSS unit, Khanna, also organised a rally in favour of CAA and other laws brought by the BJP-led Central Government. RSS leader Kishor Kant was the main speaker at the rally in which a number of RSS and BJP leaders took part. This rally passed through main bazaar, Khanna, and ended up after reaching the same venue. Kant said this law was very useful for those Hindu and Sikhs which had returned from Pakistan and some other places.