The women of Mumbai led a historical protest in opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) at the YMCA Ground in Agripada.
Shouting slogans of ‘Inquilab’ and ‘Maa Tujhe Salaam’, thousands of women including, activists, teachers, homemakers and students gathered at the protest organized by the Mumbai Citizens Forum, saw the attendance of Dr. Asma Zahra (AIMPLB), Mrs. Supriya Sule (MP, NCP), Anjali Ambedkar, CJP secretary Teesta Setalvad, Malika Oberoi, Wardha Beg (AMU) and Chanda Yadav (JMI) among many others.
Activist Teesta Setalvad addressed the crowd saying, “If a law that fundamentally attacks the Constitution is passed, then it is our duty to protest. No piece of paper can prove our citizenship. That is why we are saying that we will not show our documents to anybody.”
Armed with the tricolor, the women inspired by the iron ladies of Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh, displayed banners that stated ‘stop dividing the nation’ and wore burqa head veils with bands that had ‘No NPR/NRC/CAA’ written on them.
Attended Women’s Protest Against CAA, NPR and NRC at YMCA Ground Agripada. pic.twitter.com/keNSULoqXu
— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) January 17, 2020
Huge Protest against CAA-NRC-NPR In YMCA ground, Agripada, Mumbai ,#WeReject_CAA_NPR_NRC #CAA_NRC_Protests #CAAProtest #NRC_CAA_Protests #IndiaAgainstCAA_NRC #India #Want #peace #worldwide pic.twitter.com/WRWWxodPAn
— RIYAJ ALAM (@Riyaj_Alam01) January 18, 2020
Photo by artist Sahej Rahal, from today’s #CAA_NRC_Protest at Agripada. #Mumbai pic.twitter.com/NeciNh4Gc4
— Deepanjana (@dpanjana) January 17, 2020
At Agripada, Mumbai..massive gathering if women #CAAProtest No NPR #NRC_CAA_Protests happening now ! pic.twitter.com/LKV9eGPIGI
— geeta seshu (@geetaseshu) January 17, 2020
|| Women are the ones truly at the forefront of the anti-CAA movement. ||
Visuals from a Women’s protest being held at Agripada, Byculla right now.
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.#CAA_NRC_Protest #CAA_NRC_NPR pic.twitter.com/2J0vlvSRuG— Gaurav Sarkar (@pencilpusher24) January 17, 2020
Speaking to the Mumbai Mirror against the ‘divisive laws’ that CAA and NRC are, a doctor and a teacher at the protest said, ‘We are known by our country. We are proud to be Indians and proud to be Muslim. Loyalty to our country is part of our faith and we’ve proven it. When we go on our pilgrimage, Haj, we carry the Tiranga. The soul of Hindustan has been enriched by the blood of our grandfathers who gave their lives for freedom. And you dare tell us to prove that we are Indians by showing some documents!”
The women also said that the current regime was diverting the minds of the people by bringing in divisive politics instead of focusing on issues like unemployment and the worsening economy. Shehla Faiz, an MBA student who came to the protest with her mother Nasreen, a retired school principal told the Mumbai Mirror, Politicians thrive on divisive laws and spread hatred. The CAA and NRC go against the essence of Bharat.
With the chant of ‘Hum Kaagaz Nahi Dikhayenge’ reverberating in the air, the women kept up their voices in the hope that the CAA would be revoked and the NRC wouldn’t be implemented. Protester Zakia Ansari said, “Let the PM give in writing what he has said: that the NRC won’t be brought in. Like a mother protects her children, the Constitution protects us. We will make sure there’s no change in it.”
