nA massive demonstration held by Federation of Tamil Nadu Islamic and Political Organisations in Chennai on Wednesday against the CAA concluded peacefully without any untoward incident reported from anywhere in the city.
Thousands of people belonging to the Islamic community marched through the streets of Chennai, shouting slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and the Citizen Amendment Act.
More than 5,000 police personnel have been posted along the route to Fort Saint George (Tamil Nadu Secretariat) and unmanned aerial vehicles were deployed to monitor the movement of people.
Though the Madras High Court on Tuesday had denied permission to representatives of various Islamic organisation to lay siege to the Secretariat, the FTNIPO, claiming to represent 23 Islamic organisations undertook the rally demanding the scrapping of CAA. They also demanded the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly to pass a resolution demanding the negation of the CAA.
Since the police had
barricaded the one kilometre stretch from Anna Salai to Secretariat, the demonstrators called off the rally after the community leaders delivered the routine speeches. The rally came to an end at 12:45 pm with the participants singing the National Anthem.
MH Jawahirullah, leader of Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhakam, who addressed the rally said that the demonstration was for the entire Indians because the CAA would make it difficult for all Indians to survive in the country. “Had MGR (former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu) been alive today, it would not have been possible for him to live in Tamil Nadu because his birth place was Kandy in Sri Lanka,” said Jawahirullah.
Elsewhere in the State, members of Islamic community staged rallies condemning the CAA. But all rallies and demonstrations were peaceful as no untoward incidents were reported. The sit-in at Washermenpet area in Chennai continued for the fifth day without any unpleasant experience.