Peaceful March Against CAA In Bhubaneswar Tomorrow

An activist writes on a street during a protest against Citizenship Amendment Act 2019, in Guwahati (Photo: ANI)

Bhubaneswar: It is Odisha’s turn to express its angst against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). There will be a peace rally in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. It will primarily have members of the Muslim community, who will be accompanied by people of other faiths including Hindus.

The protestors will wear black ribbons and march in silence from Satya Nagar Masjid at 11 am demanding revocation of CAA. The peace rally will culminate at Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s residence – Naveen Niwas.

“The recent passing of the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in both Houses of Parliament and with Presidential assent becoming a law – CAA is against the Constitution of India. It is against Article 14 of the Constitution. There are protests against this across India. It is not only Muslims who are protesting. Hindus, Christians, Sikhs – people of Hindustan are protesting. This is nothing Muslim, it’s about the people of the country,” said Mufti Mohammad Jamal Qasmi, Imam Mancheswar Masjid talking to reporters here.

No slogans will be shouted during the rally. The marchers will submit a memorandum to the Odisha Chief Minister to convey their apprehensions over the CAA and proposed legislation for nationwide implementation of the National Register of Citizens or NRC.

“We love our Chief Minister for his secular credentials. His father was a secular person. His party is secular. He has been adjudged as the best Chief Minister. We will give our memorandum appeal Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to at least hold a press conference and assure the people of Odisha that he was secular, is secular and shall remain secular,” Qasmi said.

On Friday, during a meeting with a delegation of the Muslim community from Bhadrak, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had assured the Muslim community in Odisha that his government will not implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC).