The State has fast turned into a battlefield with supporters and critics of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) hitting the roads in separate events across Jharkhand. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in its ongoing awareness campaign in favour of the NRC and CAA, is inviting national leaders to address meetings in nooks and corners of the State, protestors – primarily religious organizations and student bodies – are staging protests against the recently passed laws in different cities.
On Saturday, BJP held a major awareness programme in tribal-dominated Khunti district and apprised the residents of the district about the alleged efforts of opposition parties to misguide people about NRC and CAA. On the other hand, thousands of protestors gathered at Bariatu in Ranchi and raised slogans against the Centre’s alleged ploy of religious discrimination in garb of NRC and CAA. “The Government has shown its true colour. The CAA is not only unconstitutional but also a threat to the democratic and secular structure of the country,” said Mohammad Tabrez Ansari, one of the protestors at Bariatu on Saturday.
Ranchi has witnessed several peaceful protests against CAA and NRC since the results of the 2019 Assembly elections were out. Several members of the Muslim community and student organizations took out protest rallies on Mahatma Gandhi Road in the first week of January and raised concern over the implementation of the controversial law.
“The Muslims are now fighting for existence in India. CAA and NRC, when put together, clearly show the intentions of the Government and prove that the policies brought by the Government are ways to sideline and marginalize one particular community,” said Md Shahid, a businessman from Daily Market.
To counter the impact of the protests and spread awareness about NRC and CAA, BJP launched a statewide campaign here last month. As a part of the campaign, BJP leaders are visiting different parts of the State and clearing the misconceptions about the laws. On January 13, the BJP took out rallies across the State and also formed a human chain in favour of the NRC and CAA.
Meanwhile, the All India Students Federation (AISF) and other student unions are also planning to invite Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid for addressing rallies in the State against CAA and alleged atrocities on protesting students in different universities across the country, especially the national capital.