Team Herald
MARGAO: A protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Citizens Register (NRC) was held at Lohia Maidan, Margao on Monday, wherein speakers accused the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of altering the secular Constitution of India.
Arvind Bhatikar, Elvis Gomes, Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat and others were present. Bhatikar said, “First time in the Indian history a differentiation on the basis of religion has happened. Modi-Shah couple is thinking of making Hindu nation and this is the first step. NRC they said will be implemented in entire country. Modi-Shah broke the agreement of the Assam unilaterally. They used the brute majority in Parliament but the Congress woke up late.”
“Time to remain silent is over. First time it has happened that the States are opposing the Central government, which is federally elected. We have to teach lesson to ‘Mota’ and ‘Chota bhai’,” said Bhatikar.
Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat said, “The Constitution was not linked to religion ever. First time, the amendment has created an opposition against all other religions.” “We all have to come together against the “dadagiri” and “mobocracy”. We have to stay united and if the unity continues the public pressure will force them to repeal the law,” Kamat added.
AAP convener Elvis Gomes said, “This law tells us to identify people on religion basis but the people of India have decided to oppose it at any cost. They had attempted to sow the seeds by removing the holidays such as Good Friday, St Francis Xavier’s feast and Eid in Goa in the past. This is BJP- Bogus Janata Party would do anything to stay in power.”
The meeting passed resolutions to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill passed by the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha recently and hurriedly approved by the President of India to convert it into an Act.
The meeting condemned and rejected the Act as “unconstitutional” and demand its withdrawal immediately for violating the Indian Constitution. The speakers demanded that the BJP government at the Centre take care henceforth to preserve the spirit of the Constitution.
The meeting resolved to continue the fight firmly to preserve the secular fabric of India where all citizens, irrespective of religion, cast, creed, and political affiliations have equal rights to live and prosper.
They reject CAA and NRC outright, strongly and vociferously condemned the police atrocities on students of Jamia Millia and other universities and also the attack by “goondas” on the students of JNU, New Delhi.
