PANJIM: The Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) that has triggered widespread protests across the nation on Wednesday saw several groups including different religious communities in Goa supporting the demand to withdraw back the “anti-communal and anti-Constitutional law”.
As many as 1,000 persons held a peaceful protest at Azad Maidan, here, amidst tight police security, opposing the imposition of the anti-people law.
“What was the haste in getting the Bill signed by the President? Unlike former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and veteran leader Lal Krishna Advani, the present BJP government has completely gone against the Indian Constitution. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are the main culprits,” retired IAS officer Arvind Bhatikar, who spearheaded the protest, said while addressing a huge gathering comprising of attendees from Goa and other States as well as different religious communities.
He also dared the government to implement the Act claiming that Goa will fight tooth and nail to uphold its secularism.
Activist and a doctor by profession, Oscar Rebello also expressed his anguish over CAA asking the BJP leaders to respect the Constitution.
As he delivered his fiery speech in Konkani, Hindi and English, Rebello cited Article 14 of the Indian Constitution that speaks about equality before law wherein any person should not be denied equality before the law or equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.
He stated that prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth is an offence and the present government is violating the article.
“It is a shame there was no majority in the Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha but had coward representatives who favoured the draconian law. In the NRC, a person will have to proof his nationality with documents which is not Aadhaar Card, etc,” he said apprehending that those who fail to prove their nationality will be sent to detention centres.
“We are tired of politicians speaking about and working on issues which are 500 years old. Stop looking back and look forward to take us forward,” he said clearly indicating that laws should not come into force over issues which are several century old.
Rebello also urged heads of different religion communities to teach students about Indian Constitution by bringing experts in the field so as to make the young minds understand their rights and responsibilities.
With slogans opposing the CAA, the activists called the controversial law anti-people, anti-law, anti-constitution, anti-Muslim, anti-migrants, anti-tribals and discriminatory.
The anti-CAA groups also booed Goan MPs for supporting the law.
Senior journalist Sandesh Prabhudesai dared the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant-led government to divide the people of Goa on religious lines.
He asserted that Goa will not bow to the “divide and rule policy and fight it out strong.”
