Inspired by Shaheen Bagh protests, women in Mumbai launch anti-CAA sit-in Dharna

Women launch a sit-in dharna on a road in south Mumbai’s Nagpada area on 26 January night which is inspired by Shaheen Bagh in Delhi.

Mumbai| The women sat down on the Morland road outside Arabia Hotel on Sunday late night, they held placards and raised slogans against the Citizenship Amendment Act, the National Register of Citizens and the National Population Register (NPR), which apparently is inspired by the Shaheen Bagh protests.

Most of them are residents of Muslim-dominated Madanpura, Jhoola Maidan, Apripada, and Mumbai Central areas.

Placards with slogans like “We stand against CAA, NRC, NPR”, “They tried to divide us, Respect my existence or expect my Resistance” written on them can be seen held by the women protesters.

Slogans hailing Hindu-Muslim unity and brotherhood were also raised.

Also Read: If CAA and NRC are implemented then “Jinnah is winning” says Shashi Tharoor

A law student who is leading the protesters, Fatima Khan, said “The government is just doing what it feels like. They have detained Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad when he was protesting against the act. The women in Uttar Pradesh are not being allowed to protest, this is completely unconstitutional.”

“We are just following the call to have a Shaheen Bagh in each and every city of the country. We won’t budge until the act is withdrawn and the Supreme Court gives the right order,” she said.

Senior Nagpada police inspector, Shalini Sharma, said she had requested the protesters to take prior permission from the police, but they refused to budge and continued to occupy the road.

At least 500 protesters, mostly women, have been protesting in Shaheen Bagh against the citizenship act and the proposed NRC for the last 40 days. They have said they will call off the agitation only when the amended act is withdrawn.