7 million people form 620km-long human chain to protest anti-Muslim law
Kerala’s chief minister and several newly-weds also participate in human chain against the controversial law
Kerala’s chief minister and several newly-weds participate in Kerala's human chain against the new bill. PHOTO: TWITTER/The left turn
In a rare episode of staging protest against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), a 620km-long human chain was formed in India's southwest state of Kerala when the country marked its 71st Republic Day on Sunday.
The protest was organised by Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), where millions of people – including chief minister and several newly-weds– lined up from Kasargod in the north of Kerala to Thiruvananthapuram in the south to register their protest against the new controversial move, NDTV reported.
While protest was led by the Left party, it also witnesses people with opposing political views standing united in resistance against the anti-Muslim law.
"I believe I am here because it's my duty to stand up for other citizens who are being sidelined on the basis of caste, creed or religion. This is our India and I stand united with everyone against the Citizenship Amendment Act," Malayalam actress Sangeetha Mohan said.
A Muslim woman, wearing a hijab, said: "We are not here for politics. It's not about party. We will live and die here in India."
A man, next to her interrupted by saying that "they are trying to scare us. We are all Indians, we are all humans. That's why we have joined the human chain".
The new law does not extend the same protection to Muslim migrants as to six other religious minorities fleeing persecution, thereby undermining India’s commitment to equality before the law, enshrined in its constitution.
Indian citizenship act set to create largest statelessness crisis in world: EU lawmakers
On December 31, Kerala passed an unanimous resolution in the state Assembly against the Citizenship Amendment Act, becoming the first state to urge New Delhi to repeal the law.
Congress-ruled Punjab and Rajasthan are the other two states to have passed such a resolution.
The original story appeared on NDTV.
The protest was organised by Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), where millions of people – including chief minister and several newly-weds– lined up from Kasargod in the north of Kerala to Thiruvananthapuram in the south to register their protest against the new controversial move, NDTV reported.
While protest was led by the Left party, it also witnesses people with opposing political views standing united in resistance against the anti-Muslim law.
"I believe I am here because it's my duty to stand up for other citizens who are being sidelined on the basis of caste, creed or religion. This is our India and I stand united with everyone against the Citizenship Amendment Act," Malayalam actress Sangeetha Mohan said.
A Muslim woman, wearing a hijab, said: "We are not here for politics. It's not about party. We will live and die here in India."
A man, next to her interrupted by saying that "they are trying to scare us. We are all Indians, we are all humans. That's why we have joined the human chain".
The new law does not extend the same protection to Muslim migrants as to six other religious minorities fleeing persecution, thereby undermining India’s commitment to equality before the law, enshrined in its constitution.
Indian citizenship act set to create largest statelessness crisis in world: EU lawmakers
On December 31, Kerala passed an unanimous resolution in the state Assembly against the Citizenship Amendment Act, becoming the first state to urge New Delhi to repeal the law.
Congress-ruled Punjab and Rajasthan are the other two states to have passed such a resolution.
The original story appeared on NDTV.