CAA Protests: Political Parties, Students in TN Continue to Fight

The students’ organisations and political parties in Tamil Nadu continue to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019. On Monday, the principal opposition party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) held a protest in all the districts while the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] held a protest attended by leaders of major political parties.

DMK ACCUSE BJP, AIADMK

The DMK cadres hit the streets against the CAA as well as the police excesses in Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). Party leader, M K Stalin led the protest in Kancheepuram district. Stalin accused the ruling All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) while addressing the protest meeting, and said, “The government in our country is run by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which is destroying the normal lives of the people instead of improving it. The government is shying away from issues on unemployment, economic crisis and farmers’ issues and indulging in actions violating the Constitution and harmony in the society. The AIADMK government, too, has supported the CAA, thus, betraying the minorities and the Tamils from Sri Lanka.”

The party has also convened an all party meeting in Chennai on Wednesday to chart out further struggles against the CAA and the police actions on students.

STUDENTS HOLD PROTESTS

The students community, too, has joined the fight against the CAA in different campuses in the state and condemned the atrocities on students. The students of Madras University in Chennai are conducting a sit-in protest condemning the implementation of CAA. In an instance of highhandedness of the police, two students who were participating in the protest were arrested by the police.

Also read: Across TN, Students Rise Against CAA, Jamia Police Brutality

Anand, a student of Madras University while speaking to NewsClick said, “We are holding this protest against the BJP government’s plan to implement the CAA which is aimed at targeting the Muslim community. All the students have boycotted the classes and are sitting here in protest. The Tamil Nadu government and the police are denying the right to protest and we demand the immediate release of the students arrested from the campus”.

The Rajah Serfogi Government Arts College in Thanjavur saw massive protests from the Students Federation of India (SFI) while the police resorted to mild lathi charge on them. The college administration reportedly sought the help of the police in forcing the students to attend college, which then resulted in the students resorting to road roko (block the road).

The students of the Madras Christian College held a novel protest by writing post cards to the union government countering the move to implement CAA. The students of Dr Ambedkar Law College in Thiruvallur took out a rally to the district collectorate office and submitted memoranda opposing the implementation of CAA by the union government.

The students of Central University of Tamil Nadu in Thiruvarur held a protest near the campus and burned the effigy of the union home minister Amit Shah. The college administration in a move to curb the protests has closed the hostel citing winter vacation and directed the students to vacate the hostel.

CPI(M) HOLDS MASSIVE PROTEST

CPI(M) led a massive protest in Chepauk in Chennai on Monday. The leaders of major political parties including Communist Party of India, DMK, Viduthalai Siruthaikal Katchi, Congress, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and Indian Union Muslim League participated in this protest. The speakers demanded the repeal of the unconstitutional amendment in the Citizenship Act and accused the AIADMK government of compromising the interest of the minorities and the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.

Also read: CAA Protest Update: Cops Unleash Violence Inside Jamia, 5 Dead in Assam

CPI(M) state secretary K Balakrishanan while speaking in the protest said, “The BJP government is trying to abolish the Indian Constitution and implement the agenda of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The move to amend the citizenship act has initiated widespread protests across the country. The union government and many allies of BJP are using police force to suppress the voice of the people. This government should be met at the streets and be taught a lesson on protecting the values of the Constitution.”

The left parties have called for a joint protest on December 19 across the state condemning the CAA and police brutality against the protesting student community.