"Not scared of Coronavirus": Shaheen Bagh protest completes 90 days

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"Not scared of Coronavirus": Shaheen Bagh protest completes 90 days

There is a worldwide panic over Coronavirus. The women of Shaheen Bagh protesting against CAA-NRC-NPR however are unnerved

Saturday March 14, 2020 3:01 PM , Hena Farhat, ummid.com

[Like Shaheen Bagh in New Delhi, protests against CAA-NRC-NPR are underway at a number of places in India unabated despite the health concerns. (Photo: Twitter/ShaheenBaghOff1)]

New Delhi: Schools and colleges are being closed. Companies are asking employees to work from home. Large gatherings and even prayers in congregation are suspended. There is a worldwide panic over Coronavirus - the deadly virus named COVID-19 by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The prostesters at Shaheen Bagh in New Delhi however are unnerved.

"We are not scared of Coronavirus", they said while addressing a press conference Friday as their 24x7 protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Citizen Register (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR) completed 90 days.

"We are being provided with masks and hand sanitisers. The women are regularly cleaning their hijabs. There is absolutely no need to be scared of coronavirus,” the protesters reiterated.

The protesting women have said they were not scared of the freezing cold or rain, so they have no fear of coronavirus now.

"We are using sanitizers, giving Dettol to women to clean their hands. The government thinks that due to the fear of coronavirus, the women will flee and leave the site. Amit Shah and Modiji, please don't worry about us, we will take care of ourselves," a woman protester said.

The women said several precautions are being taken and awareness about the symptoms of coronavirus and measures to avoid it are being spread among the protesters. They have also been requested not to bring children to the venue.

Like Shaheen Bagh in New Delhi, protests against CAA-NRC-NPR are underway at a number of places in India unabated despite the health concerns.

'Pass resolution against CAA, NRC in Parliament'

While demanding from the Modi government to revoke the amendments made in the Citizenship act, the protesters demanded a resolution against the CAA and NRC in Parliament.

As many as 11 State Assemblies in India have passed resolution against the CAA so far. Delhi became the latest when it passed the resolution and asked the Modi government to revoke the controversial law, NRC and NPR.

'People no longer believe on the words of govt'

Commenting on the speech by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Rajya Sabha Thursday, the Shaheen Bagh protesters said whatever the government has said on NPR should be given in writing as the people now do not believe on the words the government.

The Shaheen Bagh protesters also said that people, especially minorities across India, are scared of the CAA.

“On Thursday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Rajya Sabha that no Muslim needs to be scared. We want to tell the Home Minister that not only Muslims, but other minorities are also scared,” a protester said.

'Fair probe of Delhi riots'

The protesters also demanded a fair investigation into the north east Delhi violence and a compensation of Rs 1 crore to the victims.

"We want a fair probe into the riots in Jaffrabad, Maujpur and Shiv Vihar. Besides, there should be an inquiry about how the people came from Uttar Pradesh to the national capital during the violence," the women protesters at the site said at a late-night press conference.

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