Team Herald
PONDA: Against the backdrop of protests being held across the country, especially in the North- East, protests were held in Ponda as well on Thursday. Organised by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), a rally was held at the Dada Vaidya Chowk, Ponda against the passage of Citizen (Amendment) Bill (CAB) in Parliament.
SDPI leader Sheikh Muzaffar said the bill is unconstitutional and against the provision of the Citizenship ACT and that demanded that the ‘Anti-Muslim’ Bill be withdrawn immediately.
Muzaffar further accused the central government of taking the nation on the same path as Hitler and claimed that the BJP had a hidden agenda of wanting to divide Hindu and Muslims.
“The amendment paves the way for Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsees and Jains from neighbouring countries to acquire citizenship. The BJP has shown its true communal colours by effectively leaving out Muslims from the list. The government’s claim that only persecuted religious minorities are being given this opportunity, doesn’t stand ground, as the Rohingya Muslims are most persecuted ethnics minorities as per United Nations. Interestingly Afghanistan does not share a border with India, while Myanmar shares a border with India,” he added.
He also appealed to all Indians and Goans to come out and oppose the CAB and to support their demand to save the unity of the country, which is now under threat.
“The Constitution does not allow unequal treatment on religious grounds,” Muzaffar added further.
The protestors also raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for introducing this bill.
SDPI also criticised the government for failing on the development and economic front and alleged that it was thus trying to distract the people by switching to this path, whereby the unity of the country was being destroyed. SPDI members elaborated how the central government had failed in generating employment, bringing down the GDP, ensuring proper law and order and providing justice to rape victims.
