By M RAFIĀ AHMED
Coimbatore: It was a sea of humanity with people from different faiths taking part at the massive rally organised by All Jamaths, political outfits and organisations to protest against the CAA, NRC and NPR. Rallyists including women and children holding placards waded thru the main thoroughfare starting from Ukkadam to Red Cross building.
Tricolour flag to a stretch of 3 km distance was carried by the protestors drawn from Pollachi, Avinashi, Tirupur, Mettupalayam and Coimbatore shouting slogans agains CAA, NRC and NPR. And representatives from Church of South India, Roman Catholic joined the rally in support of Muslims. A strong police contigent including Rapid Action Force (RAF) provided bandobust all thru’ the rally route.
Leaders from various political parties including SDPI, PFI,IUML spoke at the protest meet held near Red Cross building. Shajitha Burvin, a resident of Karumbukkadai told this scribe that they aren’t agains the Union goverment, but against the policies affecting the minorities. “What neccessitated the Centre to amend the citizenship act besides implementing National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR)?, questioned Nishar, an engineering grad.
Unlike other demonstrations and rallies, this time women and children from different parts of the city were seen in large numbers right from the commencement of the rally till the end. Slogans against CAA, NRC and NPR rent the air all thru’ the rally route. The all jamaths, Tamil Nadu Jamaathul Ulema Sabai, Jamaath-e-Islami Hind (JIH) besides women’s and students wing took proactive role Ā in the protest rally.
Tamilnadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) was also part of the Federation which organised this massive protest. Leaders as well as cadresin huge numbers were also part of this agitation.