– Raheem Khan
Baran, Rajasthan, March 17: The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) organized a massive protest at Anjuman Square here Friday to demand withdrawal of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The protesters submitted a memorandum, addressed to the President of India, to the Tehsildar of Baran, representing District Collector of Baran.
SDPI District Secretary Iftikhar Ahmed said the CAA violates Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law for all citizens. The Act grants citizenship to migrants except for Muslims from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
The protest was attended by hundreds of people, including Ahteshamuddin Siddiqui, Maulana Mohammad Akhtar Nadvi Qasmi, SDPI Secretary Zakir Hussain, and District President Abdul Aziz alias Ajju Bhai.
SDPI State General Secretary Abdul Aziz warned that if the Union Government does not withdraw the CAA, SDPI will continue its fight until this black law is repealed.
Other speakers said the CAA is a discriminatory law that goes against the basic spirit of the Constitution. The CAA will make Muslims second-class citizens in India. It will aggravate social tensions already existing in Assam and other northeastern states. It will damage India’s secular image.
SDPI has called upon all citizens to raise their voices against CAA and put pressure on the government to withdraw it. The party has demanded that the government immediately repeal this law.
SDPI District Vice President Shahadat Hussain Ansari thanked all those present, as well as the administration and the media.
CAA has been met with widespread protests across India and challenged in the Supreme Court.
