By Rohan Agarwal

New Delhi, March 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) The 101-day long Shaheen Bagh protest that was termed as 'heart of anti-CAA protests in India', was cleared by the Delhi Police on Tuesday morning at around 7 O'clock.

Police say the site had to be cleared following the outbreak of COVID-19 and the curfew imposed in Delhi to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

According to the police, no force was used during the process, however several protesters, who refused to leave the venue despite continuous persuasion, had to be taken into detention.

Deputy Commissioner of Police R.P. Meena said, "Police requested them to vacate the place but they refused. So, police cleared the area and detained a few protesters."

The Delhi Police also said, "All protest sites have been cleared -- Jaffrabad, Jamia and Turkman Gate. Some persons have been detained at all these places as well."

The agitation at Shaheen Bagh began on December 15 after the police action in Jamia Millia Islamia where the police allegedly used force against the anti-CAA protesters in which many students were injured.

According to the locals of Shaheen Bagh, police reached the protest site at around 6.45 a.m. and asked the protesters to vacate the site citing the curfew but they refused which led to their detention.

"We were following precautions for protection against COVID-19, only five of us were sitting on the site but they (Delhi police) did not allow us to protest. They have removed us forcibly," one of the lady protester said.

Another local of the area echoed her views and said: "They came out of nowhere and since it was early morning only a few protesters were present at the site. Now when the site has been cleared they have deployed heavy force here," Shahrukh, who lives about 250 metres away from the protest site, told IANS.

Meanwhile, the site remains heavily guarded by police force to stop protesters from assembling again, however the road connecting Noida to Delhi is still not open for public because of the ongoing curfew in the national capital.

According to officials in South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), the civic body will now clean up the site and try to repair the damage. The Public Works Department will also carry out the repair and cleaning process.

Shaheen Bagh had become a symbol of anti-CAA protest and was replicated in some other parts of the country. However, amid the fear of COVID-19 spread, protests at other places were also called off.

Shaheen Bagh protesters had tweeted on the day of the Janata Curfew after a petrol bomb was hurled at the barricades, "We are committed to cooperating with the law of the land and request all our well wishers and sympathisers to abide by the same. We are all in this together. We will come back stronger. This is not over.

"In spite of all this, and in line with the State directives issued to contain the #COVID 19 threat facing our nation, we bravely continue our protest today with only five women protesters marking their resistance on behalf of all of us at Shaheen Bagh," the protesters had said on Sunday.

(Rohan Agarwal can be contacted at Rohan.a@ians.in )

Source: IANS

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Aligarh/Moradabad (UP), March 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Even as anti-CAA protests in Lucknow and Deoband have been called off in view of the Corona scare, women protesters have continued their agitation, ignoring the appeals issued by religious leaders.

Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Eidgah in Moradabad on Sunday during the Janata Curfew call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

At 5 p.m., when the entire country rang bells and beat 'thalis' to express their gratitude to Corona warriors, the protesters in Moradabad beat 'thalis' to express their protest against citizenship laws.

The Moradabad police have now decided to book the protesters who had gathered at Eidgah on Sunday.

Amit Kumar Anand, additional superintendent of police (city), said, "Around 500 protesters reached Eidgah ground and started a sit-in protest there. Their act may fuel the epidemic. We are going to book them under IPC section 188 (disobedience of order duly promulgated by a public servant) and other relevant sections for posing threat to others' lives."

One of the organizers at the sit-in site, Waqi Rashid, said, "Coronavirus cannot be controlled by a one-day curfew."

In Deoband, the home to one of the largest Islamic seminaries of the world, the anti-CAA protest was called off.

In Aligarh, over 500 women protesters are continuing with their sit-in against the Citizenship (amendment) Act (CAA). The protest against the CAA is going on at Aligarh's Shah Jamal Idgah ground since January 29.

The district administration had served a notice to the organizer two days ago asking them to vacate the place for 10 days amid coronavirus fears or "face legal action". However, neither the protesters nor the organizers have paid heed to it.

Aligarh district magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh said, "Action will be taken against them."

The administration has, meanwhile, decided to screen people coming from Delhi, Noida, Agra and Mathura.

Public announcements are being made by the municipal corporation officials, urging people to stay indoors to combat the spread of Covid-19.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) In view of the complete lockdown in the national capital to thwart the COVID-19 spread, Delhi Police cleared the protest site in Shaheen Bagh on Tuesday and detained some protesters.

Deputy Commissioner of Police R. P. Meena said, "Police requested them to vacate the place but they refused. So, police cleared the area and detained a few protesters."

The Delhi Police also said, "All protest sites have been cleared -- Jaffrabad, Jamia and Turkman Gate. Some persons detained in all these places as well."

Sources in Delhi Police said, "A team of senior police officers reached the site at 6.45 a.m. First, they tried to pacify the protesters. At that time around a dozen persons were present. Usually, very few women protesters remain there during the mornings. And because of the lockdown, their number already was very less."

The police arrived with trucks and JCB machines and dismantled all the structures and seized the tents.

The police sources say that "Delhi Police will register a case of violation of prohibitory orders against the organisers and the persons detained."

Police also said, "The Kalindi Kunj road connects Delhi-Noida-Faridabad and it was necessary that essential commodities should also reach the people. It was certainly, the violation of section 144 (prohibitory orders), therefore they cleared the site."

The protests at Shaheen Bagh had been going on since three months against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). It all started after the police action in Jamia Millia where police used force against the anti-CAA protesters in which many students were injured allegedly.

Shaheen Bagh had become a symbol of anti-CAA protest and was replicated in some other parts. However, amid the fear of spread of the COVID-19, protests in other places were called off.

Shaheen Bagh protesters had tweeted on the day of the Janata Curfew after a petrol bomb was hurled at the barricades, "We are committed to cooperating with the law of the land and request all our well wishers and sympathisers to abide by the same. We are all in this together. We will come back stronger. This is not over."

Source: IANS

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Lucknow, March 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) The two month long anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest at Lucknows Clock Tower was called off 'temporarily on Monday morning in view of the COVID-19 scare.

The women protesters said that they were suspending their protest in view of the corona scare, but would return to protest against the citizenship laws as soon as the situation eases.

The decision apparently came after senior cleric appealed to the protesters and asked them to call off the protest in the public interests.

The women left behind their "dupattas" and their cots as a mark of their continuing protest.

They also requested the local administration to allow a status quo at the protest site.

The protest at the Clock Tower in Lucknow began on January 17 and repeated attempts made by the police to force the protesters out have failed.

The administration did not allow the women to put up a tent and three protesters died after falling ill due to winter rains.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) At the epicentre of the anti-CAA protest at Jamia Nagar, there is a complete shutdown in the locality, even tea stalls are closed.

A resident in Okhla Vihar said this type of lockdown is unprecedented at a place where streets used to be crowded till late after midnight.

Another resident Ali who lives in Zakir Nagar said: "This is for our safety and the lockdown should be extended for some more days."

While people are worried about grocery and medical supplies, they have been told that in case of a complete lockdown, the supply of essential commodities will not be stopped.

The afternoon prayers had minimal presence as people advised each other to keep indoors.

While people on Saturday tried to buy in bulk, grocery owner Ramzan told customers that the store will remain open and that there would not be a shortage of supplies. "People should avoid bulk-buying," he said.

However, there are various views about discontinuing the anti-CAA protest with many feeling that "the agitation should be called off."

Source: IANS

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Lucknow, March 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Women at the Clock Tower in Lucknow are continuing their protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), despite the 'Janata Curfew' being observed across the country to check the spread of coronavirus.

In Prayagraj, women protesters remained firm on not moving out of the Mansoor Bagh and did not vacate the area despite requests by the local administration.

Sufiyan, a protester at the Clock Tower, said: "We have sent children back home but we are continuing our protests in a quiet and silent manner. We are sitting at a distance from each other and are using sanitizers at regular intervals."

Lucknow's Police Commissioner Sujeet Pandey visited the Clock Tower site and adjoining areas in the afternoon to take stock of the situation.

The police did not use force with the anti-CAA protesters.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Women protesters at Shaheen Bagh on Sunday came out with a unique idea to continue their protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR) by keeping their slippers on the beds on lying at the protest site.

Modi on Thursday night in a special address to the nation appealed for 'Janata curfew' between 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

The protesters had earlier announced that they would continue as usual on the day of the curfew called by Modi on Thursday.

"We are not ending the protest, come what may. But we are aware of the danger posed by Covid-19, so we adopted this type of protest for the day," Khurshid Alam, one of the organisers of the protest, told IANS.

Alam further said that the women above 60 and children are not being allowed at the protest site.

The anti-CAA protest has been going on at Shaheen Bagh since December 15 last year.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call on the country to remain indoors on Sunday as part of a 'janata curfew' to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the protesters in Shaheen Bagh have decided that only five women will continue with the protest on that day.

In a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19, the elderly women protesters on Saturday late night decided to continue their sit-in against the amended citizenship law with all the precautionary measures.

Sanitisers and masks had been arranged in enough numbers, and the protest site was being disinfected at regular intervals, a protester said.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) An anti-CAA protester in Shaheen Bagh has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), sending health authorities on yet another hot chase for the infected person, and all those who have been holding the sit-in protest here, since December 15.

The development comes amid surging cases of COVID-19 in the country, with the toll breaching 300-mark earlier on Saturday. While the authorities have been issuing advisories in a bid to encourage social-distancing to contain the spread of the virus, the protestors at Shaheen Bagh have so far refused to vacate the site.

Seniro health officials said that the protester contracted coronavirus from his sister who had tested positive for the infection post her return from Saudi Arabia earlier this month.

Speaking to IANS, the protestor said : "My sister, who lives in Dilshad Graden, has returned from Saudi Arabia earlier this month, after which we visited her house on March 10."

The protester and his mother were later admitted to the isolation ward at Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Narain Hospital, where both of them were found to be positive for the infection.

However, the man claimed that he participated at the Shaheen Bagh protest on February 9, whereas his sister returned from Saudi Arabia in March.

The health officials are now conducting checkups at the factory where the patient was working. Besides, details of all those who have come in contact with him after March 10 have also been collected.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Jamia Coordination Committee has temporarily suspended it's ongoing 24 hrs sit-in protest at gate no. 7, near Jamia Milia Islamia (JMI) citing coronavirus outbreak, but not before playing politics.

In a statement it said, "With a heavy heart but great hope in our hearts, we temporarily suspend the ongoing 24 hrs sit-in protest at Gate no. 7, JMI and appeal to all protesters to kindly take the situation with utmost seriousness and save themselves and others from this fatal illness."

However, while making a case to fight the outbreak, it said, "In times like these, we must introspect our actions and remind ourselves that in the face of death we are all equal; so why exclude, why discriminate, why repress, why exploit, why kill, why violate ? This global epidemic must serve as a reminder of global injustice, global inequality and global violence."

Making its stand clear that it continues to remain against the Citizenship Amendment Act, NRC or NPR, it urged the centre to stop the NPR process at once. In a clear case of making a political point even in face of such deadly pandemic, the Jamia Coordination Committee said, "We again appeal to the government to repeal the discriminatory anti-constitutional CAA, NRC and the NPR. The current crisis is a clear reminder of the fact that humanity is for all irrespective of religion."

What's more? They even dubbed Sunday's 'janta curfew' where PM Modi urged all to stay indoors through the day as 'jumla'.

"We would also like to reiterate our misgivings with jumlas such as 'janta curfew'. It would be instead wise to encourage people to 'quarantine for humanity'. The focus must remain of voluntary and honest self-initiated precautions. No situation must be utilised to normalise curfews," it said.

-- IANS
abn/rag/sdr/

( 310 Words)

2020-03-22-00:14:00
Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) A Delhi court on Saturday sent suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain to 10-days judicial custody for instigating violence in the national capital.

Hussain was produced before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Singh Rajawat at the end of his one-day police remand.

Hussain was allegedly involved in the violence in which Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma was murdered and his body was recovered from a drain near his house.

Shah Alam, Tahir's brother, was also arrested for the riots and is currently in judicial custody.

The national capital saw violence in north-east area last month, which resulted in the killing of at least 53 people.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) A Delhi court on Saturday pulled up Delhi Police while granting bail to two men arrested for the recent communal violence in the north-east area of the national capital.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Singh, while releasing Anmol and Rahul Nagar on bail, observed, "It is clear that since the accused were arrested on bailable offences, the investigating officer should have released them on bail immediately if they were able to furnish sureties."

The case was registered against the two under sections 302 (murder), 201 (disappearance of evidence), 435 (mischief), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapons) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), but only rioting charges were invoked during their arrest on March 18, which is a bailable offence.

After the arrest, the police produced them before the magistrate and sought their custody for three days.

"The application seeking three-day custody of the two accused was dismissed on the grounds of its maintainability and since the offences are bailable in nature," the court stated.

Both the accused were directed to submit a bail bond of Rs 25,000.

The violence in the national capital last month had claimed the lives of 53 people.

In the disclosure statement, Anmol stated that he had hit scooters and motorcycles with a stick and went home thereafter. Rahul, on the other hand, asserted that he threw stones and recorded videos of the riots, which he later deleted.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) In the wake of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the elderly women protesting against the CAA in Shaheen Bagh have decided that no protester will now be allowed to sit at the site for more than four hours as preventative measures against the spread of the virus.

The protesters have also decided that no children or elderly person will be allowed to particiapte in the sit-in and no announcement or mic will be used at the site as to mark it as a 'silent protest'.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged people to remain inside their houses under a self-imposed curfew.

Source: IANS

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Chandigarh, March 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) Terming the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) as absurd and unconstitutional, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said on Thursday that half of Punjab, including himself, will not be able to produce birth certificates to prove their 'Indianness'.

Pointing out that most people in Punjab came from Pakistan, Amarinder Singh asked if the Centre expected them to go to Pakistan to look for proof of birth.

"Even I don't have a birth certificate. These things did not exist when I was born," said the Chief Minister, adding that this would make him a 'doubtful character' under the government of India's new census system.

Making it clear that his government was totally opposed to these exercises, Amarinder Singh said that while a routine census would be conducted in Punjab, it would not be based on religion, caste and creed.

Asking what the BJP-led Central government was trying to prove with these laws, he took strong exception to former Army officials being declared non-Indians after fighting for the nation.

For 72 years, India has been a diverse country with different religions, castes and creeds living together in the true spirit of the Constitution and its Preamble, the Chief Minister pointed out.

"Suddenly they want to break and fragment this nation, which is totally unacceptable," he said at a conclave here.

The reaction of the people, especially the youth, clearly showed that this will not work in this country, Amarinder Singh said, adding that the government of India could not possibly put everyone in a box and take them back more than seven decades.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) A plea has been moved in the Supreme Court seeking directions for immediate removal or dispersal of mass gathering of people protesting against the CAA at Shaheen Bagh near Kalindi Kunj against the backdrop of the ongoing health crisis due to coronavirus.

Advocate Ashutosh Dubey, in the plea, contended scores of protesters are at the protest site since December 15 2019, against the Citizenship Amendment Act, the National Register of Citizen and the National Population Register.

"As per information available, 300 women and children are sitting there all the time and the crowd is much more on holidays, running into thousands," said the plea.

Dubey has urged the apex court to issue direction for immediate removal of such mass gathering of protestors at Shaheen Bagh or any other such site in view of immediate threat of coronavirus spread.

"Considering the manner in which the virus is spreading, the next few weeks are very crucial for all citizens of the country. Life of several lakhs of people in Delhi will be at immediate threat... if by any chance the disease takes a shape of community spread," said the plea.

Dubey also noted that currently no vaccine is available against coronavirus disease.

"Irresponsible act of the protesters at Shaheen Bagh in spite of such warnings and direction issued by the Centre and the Delhi government is posing immediate threat and danger of infecting and spreading coronavirus to community level when there is no vaccine available," he said in his plea.

The plea urged the apex court-appointed interlocutors to discuss with the protesters and make them understand the risk which everyone is running and recommend to them to disband for the time being.

Source: IANS

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Lucknow, March 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Lucknow police made an abortive attempt on Thursday to get the Clock Tower vacated by anti-CAA protesters.

A large contingent of policemen reach the Clock Tower on Thursday afternoon and tried to make the women leave the site.

Anti-CAA protests have been continuing at the Clock Tower since January 17 and the police has made several unsuccessful attempts to make the protesters move away from the place.

The police, on Thursday, first tried to convince the protesters about the Corona scare and vacate the site but the women did not budge.

The cops then pulled away the tarpaulin and the bedsheets on which the women were sitting. This left to scuffles and tension rose appreciably.

As the crowds swelled, the cops were forced to beat a hasty retreat. The police told the protesters that the entry of 'outsiders' and men would not be allowed henceforth.

Meanwhile, talking to IANS, Rehana, a protester, said, "The cops misbehaved with us. They pulled the bedsheets with women sitting on them. Three women fainted during this scuffle. We will not give up the protest until our demands are met. As for coronavirus, we are not afraid of it - we have survived for two months and our spirits are still not flagging."

Source: IANS

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Bareilly, March 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) Sunni clerics associated with an influential Islamist seminary have said that they will call for a boycott survey to be taken for National Population Register (NPR) if it is not on the lines of the 2011 Census.

The Barelvi clerics, who gathered at Dargah Aala Hazrat here, said they will appeal to the Imams of mosques to give the boycott call if the central government failed to address the concerns of the community.

Apprehending that quite a few Muslims may be declared "outsiders and infiltrators" if they were unable to furnish relevant documents to prove their Indian nationality, the clerics said that the new citizenship law was also unacceptable to the Muslims.

Salman Hasan Khan, national vice-president of Jamat Raza-e-Mustafa, an organisation affiliated to Dargah Aala Hazrat, said: "The population census should be carried out in the same way as in 2011. Muslims should not be afraid of National Population Register as the dargah will stand by them. If anyone comes to your house for the survey, talk to them politely but there is no need to share any documents with them. We will appeal to the Imams of mosques to inform the public about boycotting NPR during Friday prayers."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had told Parliament that people will not have to submit any documents to prove their citizenship under the NPR exercise.

BJP ally and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said that the 2020 survey format had several "controversial" clauses. The Bihar Assembly has already passed a resolution to say that the NPR will be implemented according to the 2011 format only.

The country has witnessed large-scale protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and also the NPR since December 2019.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, March 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) Heeding to the plea of the community leaders and the Tamil Nadu government to prevent spread of coronavirus, the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) stir is being called off temporarily in the state, according to a Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath (TNTJ) senior leader, here on Wednesday.

"We don't want to trouble people. The Chief Minister recently requested us to call off the protest as a precautionary measure to prevent spread of coronavirus," P. Abdul Rahman, TNTJ Vice-President, told IANS after holding the 'fill the jail' stir.

"A large number of Muslims, including women, participated in the protest held in 36 districts despite the coronavirus risk," Rahman said. While the state police declined to arrest protestors, TNTJ members too didn't press.

The agitation was announced long back, he said and added, to avoid inconvenience to the people, the protest time was reduced to one hour.

On Monday, K.M. Kader Mohideen, National President of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), had urged people to stop the Shaheen Bagh-type protests in Tamil Nadu as the blame of spreading coronavirus might fall on the community.

He said that all over the world, steps were being taken to prevent congregation of people to avoid the spread of coronavirus and appealed TN Muslims to call protests off.

On Tuesday, actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan had appealed the community members to stop their protest and safeguard themselves against the coronavirus outbreak.

Source: IANS

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Lucknow, March 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to file a counter-affidavit by March 25 on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the constitutional validity of the Uttar Pradesh Recovery of Damage to Public and Private Property Ordinance.

The ordinance was hurriedly brought in last week after the High Court and Supreme Court indicted the Yogi Adityanath government, wanting to know under which law it had put up hoardings of anti-CAA protesters accused of damaging property along with their names, photos, and addresses.

The division bench, comprising of Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Samit Gopal, on Wednesday listed the matter for hearing on March 27. The PIL has been filed by petitioners Maha Prasad and others.

The petitioners' counsel pointed out that the ordinance was arbitrary in its very nature as its provisions allowed the persons to be exposed to public, as criminals without their adjudication for any criminal charge.

A similar petition is to come up before the Lucknow bench of the high court on Thursday that has been filed by one of the accused who figures in the Lucknow hoardings - senior advocate Mohammad Shoaib.

Meanwhile, the High Court has asked UP government to file its compliance report by April regarding removal of the anti CAA protesters' hoardings across Lucknow.

Taking suo moto cognizance of the hoardings, the division bench of Chief Justice Mathur and Justice Ramesh Sinha, on March 9, had directed the Lucknow District Magistrate and Police Commissioner to immediately remove the hoardings and submit a compliance report with the Registrar General of the High Court by March 16.

However, on March 16 the UP government had sought more time from the court to file a compliance report on the ground that the state government had filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court against the March 9 High Court order.

The Additional Advocate General had pointed out that the matter was still pending before the Supreme Court where the vacation bench on March 11 had directed it to be referred to a larger bench.

Source: IANS

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Bengaluru, March 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) A group of women continued to protest the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at Bilal Bagh in the city amid Coronavirus scare.

"I am not scared of Coronavirus. Even if I fall sick and if that it is such a big issue, first annul the CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC)," said a lady protesting at Bilal Bagh.

She said if the government is so concerned about the protesters' safety, it can arrange for our protection.

"Remove the CAA and the NRC, we will go back to our homes and relax. Do not subject us to the difficulties like that of Assam," she said.

The protesters appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to undo the CAA and the NPR.

Most of the women, numbering around 50, are wearing masks to avert Coronavirus contracting them and are maintaining distance between each other.

The protesters have fumigated and sanitized the site of their showdown.

The Delhi's Shaheen Bagh style Bilal Bagh protest in Bengaluru has already entered into sixth week.

Source: IANS

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By Rajnish Singh

New Delhi, March 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) Over 25,782 foreigners from minority communities in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh entered India between 2015 and 2019, and they are authorised to get Indian citizenship as per the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

The CAA facilitates citizenship to migrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.

As per the Act, citizenship rights will also be granted to those who have been exempted by the Central Government or under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 or from the application of provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 or any rule or order made thereunder.

The 25,782 persons from minority communities in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are among the 26,786 foreigners who were granted Long Term Visas (LTVs) by India from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019 on valid travel documents, and seeking permanent settlement here to acquire Indian citizenship.

Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai on Tuesday, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, informed that a total of 26,786 LTVs granted to foreigners, including 25,782 from minority communities in Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019. The minister clarified that the members of minority communities in Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan who were provided LTVs were Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians.

The grant of LTVs to foreigners seeking Indian citizenship was given on grounds if Bangladesh and Pakistan women were married to Indian nationals and were staying in India or Afghanistan nationals married to Indian nationals in India and were staying in India.

Indian-origin women holding Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan nationality married to Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan nationals and returning to India due to widowhood or divorce and having no male members to support them in Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan were also given LTVs.

Besides, the LTVs were provided in cases involving extreme compassion.

The Ministry of Home Affairs granted LTVs to these 26,786 foreigners after their arrival in India. Of these, 25,782 persons belonging to minority communities in Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan have been granted LTV in the same period after their arrival in India. "There is no specific provision for grant of such LTV to minorities from Sri Lanka," the minister said.

He also informed the House that the government has extended various facilities to such persons living in India on LTV which includes grant of LTV for a period of five years at a time, allowing children of such LTV holders to take admission in schools, colleges, universities, technical or professional institutions without any specific permission from the state government and Union Territory administration.

These LTV holders have been permitted to engage in employment in the private sector, purchase of dwelling unit and accommodation for carrying out self employment, re-entry (Return Visa) to go to their native country or third country, allowing free movements within the state or Union Territory, reduction of penalty on non-extension of LTV on time. They have been permitted to open bank accounts, issuance of driving licence, PAN card and Aadhaar number.

The CAA which opens door for citizenship to these LTV holders who entered India from January 2015 to December 2019 stoked a controversy soon after it was passed by Parliament in December last year leading to protests across India with many expressing apprehension that the law discriminates against the Muslim community.

(Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@ians.in)

Source: IANS

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Chennai, March 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan on Tuesday appealed to the members of one community protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) to stop their protest and safeguard themselves against the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak in the country.

In a statement issued here, Kamal Haasan told the protesters that their health was as important as their rights. "Till you are healthy, your voice for your rights would be loud," he said.

Kamal Haasan told the protesters that protection against coronavirus should be taken now and once the situation attains normalcy, the opposition to CAA can be shown with renewed vigour.

On Monday, K.M. Kader Mohideen, National President of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), urged people to stop Shaheen Bagh-type protests in Tamil Nadu as the blame of spreading coronavirus might fall on the community.

He said that all over the world, steps were being taken to prevent congregation of people to avoid the spread of coronavirus and appealed to the Muslim community to stop protests in Tamil Nadu.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) Women protesting at Shaheen Bagh against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) feel that the CAA is a bigger threat than the novel coronavirus outbreak.

More than 500 women were sitting close to each other despite the coronavirus threat and advisory of the Delhi government. Neither is there any facility to wash hands nor have they covered their mouths with masks.

The women at Shaheen Bagh said it is the responsibility of the government to ensure their healthcare.

Sofia, a woman protester, said: "We have to fight the coronavirus as well as the CAA. The CAA and the NRC are more dangerous than the coronavirus so we will continue our fight. We won't withdraw the protest amid fear of getting infected."

"Mohalla clinics have been opened by the Delhi government at various places. If the government is so worried about our health, they should open a mohalla clinic near the protest site," said Rukhsat another woman protesting here.

Noorjahan, a 54-year-old woman, said: "If the government is worried about us then why don't they withdraw the Act. If they withdraw the CAA today, we will end the protest but till the government doesn't take it back we will continue to protest even if we get infected by the coronavirus."

The women protesters said they were ready for all sacrifices. We faced a lot of problems during the protest. We faced the winter chill and now we will face the scorching summer. The coronavirus threat also can't stop us. Till the government doesn't listen to our demand we will continue to fight, the women added.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) The fresh talks between the Delhi Police and the women protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at Shaheen Bagh on Tuesday failed as they ignored the appeal made by the police to vacate the main road and said that they will continue the protest.

Talks between the police and the women protesters were held at a neutral venue at the intersection located about 100 meters away from the protest site.

The local police station SHO and ACP Jagdish Yadav were present on behalf of the police while 20 women represented the protesters.

ACP Yadav said: "You have been protesting here from last several months, during which we provided you full security. Now, we request you to vacate the main road and protest at some other place."

The appeal of the police was unanimously opposed by the women representatives. ACP Yadav then asked the women to vacate the second part of the road so that vehicle movement can be started.

The police want that the front section of the Shaheen Bagh road on which the protest is going on should be opened but the women protesting here refused to do so.

Fatima, one of the women who came to talk with the police, said: "If the second part of the road gets opened our security is compromised so we can't agree to it."

The women after that started raising slogans.

The hearing over the Shaheen Bagh protest is scheduled for next week. Prior to this hearing, the police is trying to find a solution to this issue through a peaceful dialogue.

When the women who represented the protesters during the talks with the police informed the other protesters about the police appeal to vacate the second part of the road for the traffic, they refused unanimously. Most of the women at Shaheen Bagh said that the protest will end only after the government withdraws the CAA.

Source: IANS

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Prayagraj (UP), March 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Allahabad High Court seeking suspension of or a stay against an ordinance brought by the Yogi Adityanath government for recovering damages to public and private property during protests, bandhs or riots such as those incidents witnessed during anti-CAA protests in the state.

The plea was filed by lawyer Shashank Tripathi on Tuesday, urging the court to issue a writ or direction declaring the ordinance 'ultra vires' to the Constitution.

Tripathi in the plea has referred to the questions asked by the HC and the Supreme Court in the 'name and shame' hoardings episode.

"To evade from justifying itself from court of law, the State has played mischief upon the Constitution," he argued.

The state government on Sunday notified the "Uttar Pradesh Recovery of Damage to Public and Private Property Ordinance, 2020", promulgated by Governor Anandiben Patel.

The state cabinet on Friday had cleared the ordinance.

The PIL says the ordinance under question is in contradiction with the ordinance-making power of the state provided under Article 213 of Constitution.

The ordinance talks about judicial activity, but without procedural and functional safeguard required by law, the plea says.

The Uttar Pradesh government will use the stringent new law to recover compensation from those who damage public and private property during protests and riots.

Claims for compensation will now be decided by designated 'Claims Tribunals' that will be authorized to investigate complaints and assess the damage.

As per the ordinance, the owner of any private property or the head of the office concerned, in respect of public property, may file claims for compensation within three months of any incident that causes any damage during public protests, bandhs or riots. The claim can cite as respondents those who "exhort" or "instigate" or "committed" acts that caused the damage, as well as those named by the police.

Every order or award passed by the Claims Tribunal would be "final" and no appeal against such orders would be "maintainable" before any court. Also, no civil court will have the jurisdiction to entertain any questions on the claims.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) Following the coronavirus outbreak, anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) women protesters at Shaheen Bagh in the national capital are taking precautions and are sitting at a distance of at least one meter from each other.

Khurshid Alam, a local associated with the protest for the last three-and-a-half months told IANS, "The women protesters have formed a group of 30-35 women to continue the protest at a time. They are using sanitisers and masks to avoid coronavirus infection," he said.

He said the women activists have separated themselves by about one meter. Alam said the locals in the meantime are also maintaining cleanliness around the protest site and the dais.

The protest over the controversial CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) has been going on in Shaheen Bagh area since December 15 last year. The protesters have been demanding rollback of the controversial law passed by Parliament in December.

On Tuesday, the government put the official Covid-19 cases across the country at 126, out of which 22 are foreign nationals. At least three people have died in the country, one each from Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Source: IANS

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Kanpur, March 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) A district court lawyer has been arrested on sedition charges for retweeting a video of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and calling him a 'terrorist'.

The man, Abdul Hannan, commented on a tweet by the government media advisor Shalabh Mani Tripathi on Saturday. The lawyer was arrested on Monday, an official said on Tuesday.

The tweet by Tripathi had a video of Adityanath's Vidhan Sabha speech supporting cane charge on people protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Tripathi captioned the video: "Tum kagaz nahi dikhaoge, aur danga bhi failaoge, to hum lathi bhi chalvayenge, gharbaar bhi bikvayenge aur haan poster bhi lagvayenge (You will not show the papers and will also participate in riots, then we will cane charge, auction your houses and put up posters)."

Hannan retweeted Tripathi's post by calling Adityanath a terrorist.

In another tweet, Hannan announced that he would provide free legal help to protesters and requested all "constitution lovers" to follow him and share his tweet.

Ajay Seth, SHO of Kalyanpur police station, said, "We have registered a FIR against Abdul Hannan who has been arrested and sent to jail after being produced before the court."

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Delhi Police on Tuesday urged a court here to dismiss a plea against Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia for allegedly posting "misleading" tweets during the December 15 Jamia violence, saying that the matter with similar allegations is pending before the Delhi High Court.

In its status report submitted in the court, police said that a writ petition titled 'Lawyers Voice vs Union of India and others' was pending in the High Court and pleaded for the dismissal of an application filed by advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vishal Pahuja took the status report on record and listed the matter for further hearing on April 23.

"In view of the submissions made, the status report is not supported by a copy of the writ petition. The same be filed on the next date of hearing," the court ordered.

Sisodia had, on December 15, allegedly shared pictures and videos from Jamia Nagar in which police officers were seen carrying cans and pouring some liquid on DTC buses, which were subsequently set afire.

The complainant-lawyer accused the Aam Aadmi Party leader of "irresponsible and careless approach by spreading false information to incite violence and promote disharmony".

On February 24, the court had rejected a police report that gave a clean chit to Sisodia on the ground that he had only posted his "opinion" and tweets are mere allegations against the police.

The court had then directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to submit a fresh status report on March 17.

The complainant had requested the court to issue directions to the Delhi Police to register an FIR against Sisodia under Sections 153 (wanton provocation with an intent to cause riot), 504 (intent to provoke breach of peace) and 505 (conducting public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act.

In his court plaint, Srivastava quoted Sisodia's tweet: "BJP is setting fire in Delhi due to the fear of defeat in elections. AAP is against any kind of violence. See by yourself in this video, how fire is being set under the protection of the police."

"The tweets are being shared by many users, causing further doubts, confusion and unrest in the minds of people," the petitioner claimed in the complaint.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) BJP leader Kapil Mishra, who has been outspoken about his stand on the Shaheen Bagh protest against the Citizenship Act from the very beginning, has fired another salvo.

"First they blocked our traffic, stopped us from going to schools, hospitals & jobs. Now, Shaheen Bagh protesters are behaving like "terrorists on suic*de mission". Shaheen Bagh is now a direct threat to lives of millions of Delhi citizens. It's a criminal act. #Corona," he tweeted.

This onslaught comes after the protesters refused to budge even in face of government directives to maintain social distancing and Delhi government stopping any congregation of or above 50 people, in view of Coronavirus.

The women at Shaheen Bagh are on a protest against the amended citizenship Act, proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR). Experts suggest they pose a health risk given the contagious nature of Coronavirus.

Source: IANS

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Kanpur, March 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) An inquiry by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Kanpur against the recitation of Faiz Ahmed Faiz's poem 'Hum dekhenge' on the campus by a student during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) last December, has been "closed".

Deputy Director Manindra Agarwal said that the inquiry committee has recommended "counselling" of those involved in the incident.

"We did not have to go into Faiz poem's interpretation. The person who read the poem accepted that he should not have recited it at that time and also expressed regret in case anybody's sentiments were hurt. The matter is closed," said Agarwal, who was heading the six-member committee.

He said the report was submitted last week and it was concluded that the time and place was not the most suitable to recite the poem.

On December 17, 2019 a peaceful protest was held by about 300 students of the institute on its premises to express solidarity with their peers at Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi.

A student recited the poem during the protest against which a complaint was filed by Vashimant Sharma, a temporary faculty member, and about 16 others, including students.

The written complaint filed with the institute's director, said that the poem had some wordings that could hurt the sentiments of Hindus.

IIT-Kanpur had formed the committee in January to inquire into the complaint.

There was a war of words on social media between those supporting the recitation of the poem and those who opposed it.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Amid the coronavirus scare, the Delhi government has banned any gathering of more than 50 people but the anti-CAA protesters at Shaheen Bagh are adamant that they will not end the protest.

Joint Commissioner Delhi Police D.C. Srivastava told IANS: "DCP R.P. Meena and local police station incharge are informing the protesters about the deadly virus and making an appeal to them to end the protest as a preventive measure."

When asked that if they don't leave whether action will be taken or not, he said that "As of now we are making an appeal but if they don't listen to it then we will see what should be done."

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a press conference said that the DM and SDM have the power to take action under the Epidemic Act.

Earlier, the Delhi government directed the closure of all gymnasiums, nightclubs, theatres, weekly markets and spas in the city till March 31, apart from gatherings of more than 50 people.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Congress-ruled Rajasthan government filed an Original Suit in the Supreme Court under the Constitution's Article 131, challenging the validity of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), as it violates Articles 14 and 21 and also the basic structure on the principle of secularism.

The suit, filed through lawyer D.K. Devesh, urged the apex court to pass a judgment and decree declaring the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (Act 47 of 2019) to be ultra vires the provisions of the Constitution, therefore it should be declared void.

"The Act strikes at the basic structure of the Constitution by affecting the secular character of the country. We, the People, have given to themselves the Constitution. The Union of India, the various States, all function within the bounds of the Constitution. There are certain core values enshrined in our Constitution which constrain the various organs of the State including the Union of India to pass legislation which are in comport with the essential concepts of the Constitution," it said.

Earlier, the Left-ruled Kerala was the first state to challenge the CAA in the Supreme Court. The state's Assembly was also the first in the country to pass a resolution against the Act. The Kerala government contended there is no rationale in grouping together the three countries -- Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh -- for the purpose of the CAA and rules and orders.

The amended law seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslim migrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Christian, Jain and Parsi communities who came to the country from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan on or before December 31, 2014.

The suit urged the top court to pass a judgement and decree that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 is violative of Article 14 (right to equality) and Article 21 (right to life) of the Constitution. "Thus Act 47 of 2019 (CAA) be declared as void under Article 13 of the Constitution," said the suit.

The suit said under Article 13 of the Constitution, CAA and the Passport Rules Amendments as well as the Foreign Order Amendments infringe fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, are void.

Besides, the suit contended the Passport (Entry to India) Amendment Rules, 2015 and Foreigners (Amendment) Order are ultra vires the Constitution and be declared void.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, March 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) A court here on Monday sent suspended Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain to four-day police custody in connection with the murder of an Intelligence Bureau (IB) staffer during the recent violence in northeast Delhi.

"I find force in the submissions of the investigating officer that to unearth the conspiracy of the reasons which led to the riots that resulted in massive loss of life and property, police remand is required," Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Singh Rajawat said while sending Hussain to police custody.

Seeking his custody, Delhi Police told the court that IB staffer Sharma was allegedly murdered on Hussain's command.

"Everything was done on Tahir Hussain's command. He needs to be confronted with other accused in the case," the police said.

Hussain was arrested in this case earlier on Monday, after which the police was allowed to interrogate him within the court.

After interrogating him for an hour, the police moved the application for his custody.

The police sought his custody for five days to unearth the conspiracy, and confront him with the other accused named Salman and also find other people involved in the commission of the crime.

Hussain's counsel opposed the contentions and said that the police has already "thoroughly" interrogated him and his custody cannot be sought merely to confront him with the other accused.

The police had registered a criminal case against Hussain on a complaint filed by the deceased IB staffer's father. As per the victim's post-mortem report, he sustained 51 injuries and died due to haemorrhage.

Salman alias Haseen is also in police custody in connection with the murder.

Hussain's brother, Shah Alam, was also arrested in connection with the riots and is currently in judicial custody. Tahir is also accused for his involvement in instigating the violence.

Hussain himself was also arrested earlier this month for his alleged involvement in the violence and was sent to police custody twice.

Source: IANS

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Prayagraj, March 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Yogi Adityanath government on Monday submitted an application, seeking more time in the case related to name-and-shame hoardings, as the court set deadline to remove the hoardings ended.

Hearing could not take place due to a strike called by lawyers here in Uttar Pradesh.

The state government, in its plea, has sought time on the ground that the case on this issue was pending in Supreme Court.

It may be recalled that the Allahabad High Court, on March 9, had ordered the state government to remove hoardings with photographs of 57 anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protesters on the ground that it violated the right to privacy.

The court had asked the government to bring down the hoardings by March 16.

The state government has challenged the matter in the apex court which, in turn, has referred the same to a three-judge bench.

The hoardings have not been taken down as yet.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, March 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Telangana Assembly on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), terming it as an attempt to alter non-religious nature of Indian citizenship.

The resolution urged the Centre to amend CAA by removing all references to any religion or to any foreign country.

The House also expressed its concern over the proposed implementation of NPR and NRC, which may result in exclusion of large number of people.

"This House, accordingly, urges the government of Telangana to take all necessary steps to safeguard the people of Telangana from exercises such as NPR and NRC," says the resolution moved by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekahar Rao and adopted by a voice vote after a debate.

It referred to statements by ministers of government of India as well as government of Assam that the CAA is to be used in order to protect non-Muslims who may have been excluded from the NRC in Assam, and in future, in the rest of India.

"Therefore, this is nothing less than an attempt to fundamentally alter and undermine the non-religious nature of Indian citizenship," reads the resolution.

It noted that there have been concerted attempts to tinker with the inclusive and non-religious nature of Indian citizenship through CAA, NPR and NRC.

"Besides violating principles of equality, non-discrimination, secularism, this concerted attempt will also endanger the lives of vulnerable groups who do not possess adequate documentary proof of citizenship. Moreover, there are serious questions as to the legality and constitutionality of CAA, NPR and NRC."

"The parliamentary enactment of CAA has created grave apprehensions among various sections of society that it is a prelude to the NPR which will lead to a nationwide NRC," it said.

It pointed out that for the first time in India, the CAA introduced religious test to acquire Indian citizenship while also providing for an accelerated path to citizenship for non-Muslim citizens of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Referring to NPR, the process of which is set to be rolled out from April 1, the resolution noted that there are apprehensions among all sections of citizenry, especially the economically weaker sections and illiterate persons that they will be required to show documentary proof of citizenship as well as of their parents.

"It is also feared that the disproportionate impact will be felt most by Dalits, Adivasis, backward classes and linguistic as well as religious minorities."

"The Indian national movement was a convergence of various beliefs, thoughts and ideas. Upon Independence, our founders embraced diversity, pluralism and secularism in the Constitution. The enactment of CAA has raised concerns that by introducing a religious test for citizenship, the Act insults the memory of India's founders, who consciously chose not to incorporate a 'racial principle' or 'religious principle' in the provisions applicable to citizenship."

It said that the Act makes people belonging to certain religious eligible for Indian citizenship while excluding other persons solely on the basis of religion. "Citizenship on the basis of religion violates not only the principle of equality enshrined in Article 14 of the Constitution but also the principle of secularism, which constitutes the basic structure of the Constitution of India. By discarding secularism and quality before law in our citizenship laws, a theocratic state may be institutionalized."

"Hence the enactment of CAA calls for a combined effort from all Indian, regardless of religious beliefs, to protect our founding values and preserve secularism in the Republic of India."

Telangana became eighth state in the country to pass a resolution against CAA. The resolution also covered NPR and NRC.

Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy announced that the resolution was adopted with a voice vote as BJP's lone member Raja Singh tried to disrupt the proceedings demanding more time to speak against the resolution. He defended CAA and NPR, and targetted the TRS government for what he called misleading the people on the issue.

Earlier, moving the resolution, the chief minister termed CAA a divisive legislation and urged the Centre to abrogate it.

The chief minister said the Centre's move triggered nation-wide protests and created doubts about its real intention to conduct NPR. "Intolerant thinking is not good for the country and this country can't accept this," he said.

Pointing out that Ministry of Home Affairs in its report for 2018-19 stated that NPR is the first step for preparation of NRC, Rao said nobody was ready to believe the Centre that there will be no NRC. "Who is speaking truth. Union Home Minister or this report," he asked.

Stating that it is not an issue of Hindus and Muslims but an issue of the very future of the country and its prestige in the international community, KCR voiced concern over the growing trend of dubbing anybody as Pakistani agent and traitor. "Can you call Telangana Assembly a traitor for passing this resolution," he asked.

He said MPs and ministers went to the extent of raising slogans like 'goli maro'. "What kind of language is this. A civilized society like India's can't tolerate this nuisance," KCR said.

Source: IANS

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