Protest erupts in B'luru against CAA implementation, concerns raised over constitutional violations

Somwya Raju | NT

Bengaluru: On March 13, 2024, various organisations including AICCTU, AISA, AIPWA, and RYA staged a protest at Freedom Park, led by CPIML Liberation, aiming to thwart the implementation of the divisive Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

About 100 individuals from different backgrounds and religions gathered, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the CAA, and expressing concerns over its unconstitutional nature.

The recent notification of the Citizenship Amendment Rules, 2024 by the Ministry of Home Affairs has reignited discontent among the protestors, who perceive it as another assault on democracy and secularism by the BJP-led Central Government.

Aartrika, a protestor, emphasised the necessity to defend constitutional values, citing the widespread resistance seen in 2019 against the discriminatory CAA.

Human rights lawyer Pakeezah highlighted the rejection of these rules by the people of Assam and warned of its potential adverse impact on millions of Indians if implemented.

Reflecting on past efforts to resist the CAA, she affirmed the readiness of protestors to mobilise once again.

Civic rights activist Nasreen Syed said, “We are completely opposed to CAA since it was announced and they have implemented it right before the elections. The rules stated in the act are completely unacceptable and impractical. What about the people who have lost their documentation and ID proofs in floods or other natural calamities? Will they be declared nonIndians because they can't show a document?”

Avani, a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation (CPIML) told News Trail, “CAA is unconstitutional, discriminatory and goes against the basic concept of secularism. It is an agenda that aims to impose Hindu Rashtra, something the country is standing opposed to.”

She further added that this is an election tactic and that the people of the country will stand for their people and secularism.

Speaking about how this move has affected the sentiments of Muslims in the country, Shabaz added, “This announcement comes right before Ramzan and we are all feeling very offended. With the issue of police kicking people who are doing namaz in Delhi and us fasting and fighting for our basic constitutional rights, we feel like strangers in our own country.”