Thousands participate in massive anti-CAA protest in Panjim

Team Herald

PANJIM: Thousands congregated at historic Azad Maidan in Panjim to oppose the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) along with National Register for Citizens (NRC), and National Population Register NPR). The participants resolved to ensure that all 191 village panchayats pass resolutions opposing CAA. 

The participants  resolved not to share any information during the upcoming Census till the CAA is withdrawn.  “We pledge that till CAA-NPR-NRC is withdrawn, we will not provide any information what so ever for the purpose of NPR or even for census 2021,” the meeting resolved. 

The rally which saw participants coming down from New Delhi, was a ‘People’s March’ backed by Goa Church’s wing  Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP), along with National  Confederation of Human Rights Organisation (NCHRO) and Concerned Citizens for Goa.

The rally, initially started from Kala Academy, concluded with a public meeting at Azad Maidan. The speakers alleged that the Narendra Modi-led NDA government is trying to suppress all those voices raised against CAA, by using police machinery. 

The speakers including Jamia student protestor Ayesha Renna, activist Albertina Almeida,  Arthur D’Souza, NSUI member Prasanjeet Dhage, Navina Hassan, writer Dadu Mandrekar, activist Ramakrishna Jalmi amongst others. 

Almost all the speakers created awareness on what is CAA, NRC and how it will affect every individual. The speakers also called on people to not look at the CAA in isolation, but along with the NRC and NPR.

The public meeting began with the reading of the Constitutional preamble. 

“We the people gathered here organized by Goa alliance against CAA NRC-NPR at Azad Maidan resolve to ensure that our constitution and our laws shall always be bound and continue to be bound on principles of justice, equality, secularism, socialism and therefore we are against any form of discrimination directly or indirectly on grounds of religion caste gender class, occupation, etc,” the resolution stated. 

“We firmly say no to CAA-NPR-NRC which takes away the core of constitutional principles,” it added. 

Earlier speaking, tribal leader Rama Kankonkar appealed the participants to ensure that each of 191 village panchayats pass resolution against adoption of CAA. “We will continue to fight strong till CAA is withdrawn and justice is given to each and every individual,” he said.  “They keep repeating Hindus are in danger from Christians and Muslims. I want to say it aloud here; Hindus are in danger due to politics of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. We have had enough of politics fought on religious basis and now we will not it allow anymore,” he said. 

Arthur D’Souza said that time has come when people will have to teach BJP a lesson. “Narendra Modi and Amit Shah feel that issues like CAA will help them win elections. But they are wrong. At least in Goa, BJP will never come to power again. We have had enough,” he said. 

The speakers made an appeal to the Modi-led government not to divide the country on the basis of religion in the guise of citizenship.