Hyderabad: A massive protest was held on Friday across the city as thousands of people came out on the street around 2-00 pm to oppose the Citizen (Amendment) Act 2019.
Students from several colleges came out on the streets to register their dissent. People affiliated with Students Islamic Organisation (SIO)-Telangana, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) and various other groups held meetings and protested against the Act. They also raised slogans against the Central government.
The protesters displayed banners screaming “We Reject CAB” and blocked the roads.
Among the protesters were a large number of women. One of the main protests was held in front of Azizia Masjid in Mehdipatnam.
Apart from Mehdipatnam, the anti-CAB people also staged protests against the bill in Saidabad, Makkah Masjid, Qila Golconda, Santoshnagar, King Kothi and many other parts in the city.
Manisha Nathan, who took part in the protest along with her friend, said the people of Hyderabad reject the Citizenship Amendment Bill as it will destroy India’s secular character.
Neela Chakravarthy, lecturer at St. Joseph’s College, who arrived at Mehdipatnam to take part in the protest said that it is unconstitutional, undemocratic, bigoted and borderline fascist, We don’t want this bill and the people of Hyderabad are opposing it”, she declared.
Members SIO addressed a rally against the Act. Protesters warned of intensifying their agitation if the law was not rolled back.
Dr Lubna Sarwath, a political activist, told siasat.com that “We are against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. We will challenge it by taking it into the Supreme Court. The government cannot impose such drastic laws that harm India.”