Shaheen Bagh protest
The Shaheen Bagh protests is an ongoing (Citizenship Amendment Act protests) 24/7 sit-in civil protest, led by women, that began with the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in both houses of Parliament on 11 December 2019 and the ensuing police intervention against students at Jamia Millia Islamia who were opposing the Amendment.[1][2][3] Mainly comprising of women, the protesters at Shaheen Bagh, since 16 December 2019,[4] have blocked a major highway in New Delhi for 31 days now as of 13 January 2020.[5] On 12 January 2020 one of the largest crowds since the protests began was seen at Shaheen Bagh.[6]
The protest now is not only against CAA and police brutality, but also against the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR), and the BJP government in general.[5] The protesters have also supported unions opposing the governments "anti-labour policies".[7]
The barricaded and tented venue has drawn large crowds; The Wire notes that lakhs of protesters have turned up over the days.[8]
The blocked road affects more than 100,000 vehicles a day.
About
Shaheen Bagh protests began with just 15 local women on the afternoon of 14 December 2019. Later more local joined in and it has since became a 24/7 sit-in protest. With crowds reaching as high as 100,000 on Sundays, this protest has become the longest sit-in protest of this magnitude of modern India.[9]
Even on New Year's Eve, protesters were camping at the venue and at midnight thousands of protesters sung the Indian national anthem at midnight.[10][11] The protesters braved the coldest day, 31 December 2019, in New Delhi in a 100 years.[1][2][12]
Culture
"I won't leave this country, and I don't want to die proving I am Indian," says 70-year-old Aasma Khatoon, who hasn't left the protest site for days. "It's not just me. My ancestors, my children and grandchildren - we are all Indian. But we don't want to prove this to anyone."[1]
The area is covered in artwork and posters.[13][5][14] A reading area has been setup.[15] Volunteers have crowd-sourced hundred of book and stationary items.[4] Children accompanying their mothers have drawn issues issues such Australia’s wildfires (with a child writing 'Shaheen Bagh prays for Australia') other things such as Deepika Padukone, Spider-Man and Disney Princess.[4] Some of the children even go up to the microphone and say slogans such as "Hum kagaz nahin dikhayenge" (we won't show our papers).[4] One of the most common pictures drawn by the children is that of the national flag.[4] Everyday there are speeches, lectures and shayari.[16] Poetry by Muhammad Iqbal is heard.[2] Inter-faith prayers have been held.[17][18] Scriptures from the Geeta, the Bible, the Quran were read and Gurbani held.[17] A health camp has also been set up.[19]
"By insinuating that we don’t know anything about CAA or NRC, Modi thinks he can diminish our protest. But we are aware, we have read the Act. We also know what the constitution says." - Ghazala, 22, Shaheen Bagh protester[10]
"We are Indians and we have all made this country what it is today. No one government should be able to tell us we are not Indians." - Nahida Begum, 40, Shaheen Bagh protester[10]
The barricaded area has been visited by numerous politicians such as Congress leader Shashi Tharoor[17] and celebrities as well such as Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub.[11] The Shaheen Bagh protests has led to Shaheen Bagh-style protests in Prayagraj, Gaya and Nagpur.[20]
Delhi High court refuses to expel protesters
Protests against the Shaheen Bagh protests have also been held with many locals wanting the roads to reopen.[21] The High Court has refused a plea on the shifting protesters from Shaheen Bagh; the bench of the court was presided Chief Justice DN Patel.[22] Another petition has been filed by Advocate Amit Sahni "seeking directions to withdraw the closure of Shaheen Bagh stretch" and give Delhi Police the required assistance in addressing the issue.[23] The blocked road affects more than 100,000 vehicles a day.[23]
Gallery
References
- ^ a b c "Shaheen Bagh: The women occupying Delhi street against citizenship law - 'I don't want to die proving I am Indian'". BBC. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c Bakshi, Asmita (2020-01-02). "Portraits of resilience: the new year in Shaheen Bagh". Livemint. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ Reporter, Staff (2019-12-29). "Shaheen Bagh residents brave the cold as anti-CAA stir enters Day 15". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ a b c d e Ajmal, Anam (11 January 2020). "Delhi: Shaheen Bagh juniors draw attention to CAA | Delhi News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c "Organiser 'Calls Off' Shaheen Bagh Anti-CAA Protest, Locals Continue Dharna". The Wire. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ Sarfaraz, Kainat (2020-01-13). "Biggest crowd at Shaheen Bagh since protest began 4 weeks ago". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "CAA protest enters 27th day at Jamia, Shaheen Bagh". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ "Watch | Women, Homemakers Lead Protests Against CAA at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh". The Wire. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ PTI (26 December 2019). "Unfazed by cold, 200 women stage sit-in at Shaheen Bagh, police seek to end protest". India Today. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c Kapur, Manavi (3 January 2020). "At a women-led protest site in India, Muslims navigate identity, hope, and despair". Quartz India. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Abbas, Zafar (2019-12-31). "Celebrities, activists join protesters at Shaheen Bagh to celebrate New Year". www.millenniumpost.in. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ Dwivedi, Sukirti (1 January 2020). Achom, Debanish (ed.). "Protesters Usher In New Year At Delhi's Shaheen Bagh With National Anthem". NDTV. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Venkataramakrishnan, Rohan. "The Art of Resistance: Ringing in the new year with CAA protesters at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ Bakshi, Asmita (2020-01-10). "The old guard: meet the elderly protesters of Zakir Nagar and Shaheen Bagh". Livemint. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ Thakur, Jyoti (11 January 2020). "Shaheen Bagh Kids and Jamia Students Make Space for Art, Reading and Revolution". The Citizen. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Chakrabarti, Samrat (31 December 2019). "Shaheen Bagh Heralds a New Year With Songs of Azaadi". The Wire. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c "Anti-CAA stir: Inter-faith prayer to uphold values of Preamble as Shaheen Bagh protest nears month". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ Roy, Divyanshu Dutta (13 January 2020). "Massive Crowd, Multi-Faith Prayer At CAA Protest In Delhi's Shaheen Bagh". NDTV. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "At Shaheen Bagh anti-CAA stir, protesters brave biting cold 24x7". Hindustan Times. 2020-12-29. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ Ahmed, Sarfaraz (12 January 2020). "Nagpur: Citizens come together, start Shaheen Bagh-style protest". The Times of India. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ Yadav, Ankit (13 January 2020). "Protest against Shaheen Bagh Anti CAA protests, locals want stir to end in 48 hrs". India Today. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
- ^ "HC turns down plea on shifting protesters from Shaheen Bagh". India Today. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Tripathi, Karan (2020-01-13). "Shaheen Bagh Protests: Plea In Delhi HC Seeks Reopening Of Stretch Closed Due To Anti-CAA Stir". www.livelaw.in. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
Further reading
- Ajaz Ashraf (5 January 2020). "If You Have Not Been There Yet, Go to Shaheen Bagh Now". NewsClick
- Reuters (31 December 2019). India Celebrates New Year's Eve With Protests Against Citizenship Law. The New York Times
