Afsal Rahman CA | India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 4–Queer groups joined the country in protests against the divisive Citizenship (Amendment) Act on Friday which marked the birth anniversary of renowned anti-caste activist Savitribai Phule. Protest demonstrations were organised across the country.
In national capital of New Delhi, protestors under the leadership of trans and queer groups held a demonstartion. The rally which started from the Mandi House metro station ended at the Jantar Mantar where a public meeting was convened. Around a thousand protesters under the banner of different organisations joined the demonstration.
Slogans like ‘Azadi’ and ‘Halla bol’ were raised by the protesters in their anger against the CAA. Speakers, who addressed the gathering, called upon the protesters to take inspiration from Savitribai Phule and Fatima Sheikh in their struggle against the discriminatory law.
Similar marches were held at different cities and towns across the country including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Kozhikode. In Kolkata, the march was held from Shahid Minar to Keshav Bhavan and in Chennai, the march was organised from Chitra Theatre to Ramada Hotel, Egmore. A huge protest rally was organised from Kozhikode beach to Muthalakkulam Ground in Kozhikode in Kerala. Protest demonstrations were also held in Hyderabad, Bhopal, Ranchi, Chandigarh and Ahmedabad.
January 3 marks the 189th birth anniversary of reformer and anti-caste activist Savitribai Phule. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, January 3, paid tribute to Savitribai Phule on her birth anniversary, saying she dedicated her life to social unity, education and women’s empowerment.
“I salute Savitribai Phule on her birth anniversary. She dedicated her life to social unity, education and women’s empowerment. Her struggle for social consciousness will always inspire the countrymen,” Modi tweeted in Hindi.
