Kanhaiya’s convoy attacked again in Bihar

Source: thehindu.com

Pelted with stones by pro-CAA supporters in Supaul, CPI leader escapes unhurt

The Communist Party of India leader and former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar’s convoy was pelted with stones on Wednesday by a group of youth chanting slogans in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Mr. Kumar is currently undertaking a month-long march across Bihar.

The CPI leader had launched his march on January 30 from Bhitiharwa Gandhi Ashram in West Champaran and it is scheduled to culminate on February 29 at Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan.

A group of youths shouting pro-CAA slogans pelted stones at Mr. Kumar’s convoy at Mallik Chowk in Supaul district where he had gone to address a public meeting. Mr. Kumar was on his way to the neighbouring district of Saharsa. One person was reportedly injured in the attack and windows of three vehicles were damaged.

Mr. Kumar, though, was not hurt in the attack. Ink was also thrown at him but he escaped. The CPI leader’s supporters got down from their vehicles and protested against the attack for some time at the spot.

Later, senior district police officers reached the spot and made elaborate security arrangements for the convoy to pass through the area. “No one has been seriously injured in the incident… one person suffered minor injuries and window panes of some vehicles have been broken,” said Supaul Superintendent of Police S.K. Porika. However, no one has been taken into custody yet in the incident.

Earlier attacks

Earlier, Mr. Kumar’s convoy was attacked in Saran and Sitamarhi districts too — stones were thrown at vehicles. On the day he had begun his protest march, he was also stopped for some time in West Champaran district by the local administration. However, he was later allowed to address people at Bhitiharwa Gandhi Ashram and his convoy was allowed to proceed for the adjoining district of East Champaran.

Jharkhand: Written commitment sought to ban NPR/NRC, declare CAA black law.

Source – counterview.net

Country-wide agitations against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)/ National Register of Citizens (NRC) took a new turn in Ranchi on the Republic Day as thousands gathered in Idgah Maidan (Kadru) for a long evening of protest songs, poems and plays. The programme, “Ek Shaam Samvidhan ke Naam”, was held to reassert the constitutional values of liberty, equality and solidarity at a time when Indian democracy is allegedly under threat.

The event was organized by a wide coalition of individuals and organisations that are active in the movement against CAA/NRC in Jharkhand. Hundreds of women who are sitting on a continuous Shaheen Bagh-style sit-in in Kadru also joined.

The event began with a painting festival for children and their posters were displayed across the venue. The programme also included a rich series of songs, poems, plays, and short films around the theme of communal harmony. Pamphlets on dangers of CAA/NRC were distributed. The cultural programme started with Jhakhandi beats on nagadas and dhol-maandal by Elina and her friends.

These cultural performances brought together some of Jharkhand’s best artists and cultural activists. Veteran folk-singer Madhu Mansuri ‘Hasmukh’, who received Padmashri on Saturday, extended support to the protests with his well-known song, “Gaon Chhodab Nahi”. He said that in Jharkhandi society, different communities have always helped and supported each other. Filmmaker Meghnath, founder of AKHRA and one of the composers of the song, quipped that now the protest anthem should be “Desh Chodab Nabi.”

The Ranchi Youth Fellowship, a choir performed gospel music, while a performer sang bhajans. Children from different mohallas were also selected to sing patriotic melodies. Student group ‘Kahab to Lag Jayi Dhak Se’ who have been part of several anti-CAA/NRC/National Population Register (NPR) protests across street corners of Ranchi sang a combination of inspiring verses. Vishwanath and Anil Anshuman performed protest songs for social rights. A band, Amazing Life, regaled the people with a peppy song of solidarity.

Some well-known Jharkhandi poets supported the protest with their words. Jacinta Kerketta has consistently questioned state narratives on tribal development. Anuj Lugun’s poetry has supported indigenous renaissance and resistance against fascism and oppression. Prof Mithilesh, Aloka Kujur, Mehul and others also recited their own poetic compositions.

A topical play was also performed by the Indian People’s Theatre Association. The programme also saw performances by Tabish Ali, a rapper, Chandosree, Aamir Ali, Amreen Azad, Zohra and many others.

A civil rights release commented, “In Jharkhand, in the last five years, a climate of fear and hate has been created especially against adivasi and minority communities due to a series of inhuman mob lynchings and violence. In this charged atmosphere and with the plans of CAA/NRC and especially after the series of recent attacks on university campuses, street protests have erupted in the state and nationwide.”

It added, “Across Jharkhand, every day in the New Year from Ranchi to Daltonganj, Jamshedpur to Dhanbad, Bokaro to Ramgarh there have been spontaneous protests by students, civil society, unions, and especially women.”

Afzal Anis, one of the leading activists against CAA/NRC said, “In the last two months, many Indians and Muslims in particular have taken to the streets with the tiranga flag and readings of the preamble of the constitution, as we realise that only if the constitution is saved will the country be saved. Since independence never before have the symbols of our democracy been so visible across India”.

As the evening progressed, even as Ranchiites enjoyed the cultural performances, one of the main demands was for the newly-elected Jharkhand government to reassure the fraught sentiments of minority and tribal communities by issuing a written commitment to ban NPR/NRC activities in the state.

They also wanted the assembly to pass a resolution to repeal the CAA. Throughout the programme, the air was rent with slogans against this an unconstitutional “black law” as a threat to the secular ethos of Indian democracy in the 71st year of the Republic.

Inspired by Shaheen Bagh protests, women in Ranchi begin anti-CAA stir.

Source – hindustantimes.com

Inspired by the protest spearheaded by women at New Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh which began on December 15, 2019, an indefinite sit-in led by women against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR) kicked off at Ranchi’s Kadru area on Monday.

Holding national flags, hundreds of women, after finishing their daily chores, gathered at Kadru under the banner of ‘Hum Bharat ke Log (We the People of India)’. By evening, the crowds had swelled. The protesters said the agitation was an extension of the women’s protest at Shaheen Bagh.

Temporary camps have been erected and arrangements to cook food have also been made for the women. A bonfire has also been arranged to fight the cold.

A participant at the protest, homemaker Shakina said, “Women from all religions have come together to protest against the CAA, NRC and NPR. I don’t think CAA is against any religion but it will put poor and women in trouble in days to come. So, it is our kind request to the Modi government to repeal the new law.”

“The country witnesses several natural calamities every year such as flood and earthquakes. Poor people face loss of their properties and documents in such situation. On the other hand, women, who move to other houses after marriage and they also have to change their surnames. They also face problems with documents till they revise them. In such situation, laws like CAA and NRC will definitely put them in trouble,” she added.

Another woman, Shagupta Parveen, said the agitation would continue until the government repealed the CAA.

Protesters claimed the Ranchi administration granted them permission by for the protest.

Sub-divisional officer (SDO), Lokesh Mishra said the local police have been asked to ensure the safety of the women.

“Even though organizer of the event did not seek any security, we have alerted the local police station asking to ensure adequate security for the women there. A magistrate has also been deputed for tonight,” Mishra said.

Jharkhand has witnessed sudden spike in rallies, marches and demonstrations both in protest against or in support of the new citizenship law after formation of the Hemant Soren government on December 29. Anti or pro-CAA events are reported every day from one place or the other, which also caused tension in some of the places. A major tension was averted by the Giridih administration on January 12 after stones were hurled at a rally, which was taken out in support of the CAA there.

Even as Muslim organisations, civil society groups and Left-backed organisations have been spearheading protests against the citizenship law, right-wing organisations along with top leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been campaigning in support of the law in the state.

At Ranchi’s Ormanjhi locality on Monday, thousands of people, including women, children and students, under the banner of Rashtriya Ekta Parishad took out a mega rally in support of CAA, NRC and NPR. The participants said rumours are being spread against the law by some political parties for their vested interest.

Nitish Kumar will lead NDA in Bihar elections, says Amit Shah.

Source – thehindu.com

Bharatiya Janata Party president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said Nitish Kumar would lead the NDA in the Assembly election in Bihar due this year.

“I want to make it clear once and for all that NDA will contest the next Assembly election in Bihar under Nitish Kumar….Lalu’s dream to become chief minister again will not be fulfilled”, said Mr. Shah, while addressing a public meeting as part of the party’s ongoing Jan Jagran Abhiyan (people’s outreach programme) on the new citizenship law, CAA, in Vaishali, near Patna.

While listing the achievements of the NDA governments in Bihar and at the Centre, Mr. Shah slammed the Opposition and the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad. “We took Bihar from lantern age to LED age, from loot to law and order, fodder scam to protection of cows and from jungle raj to janata raj”, he said.

He also appealed to the audience to dial 88662 on their mobile phone to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked how many of them dialled the number. However, very few hands were raised.

“The new citizenship law is not for taking away anyone’s citizenship but to give citizenship to those who were persecuted and oppressed in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and seek refuge in our country”, explained Mr. Shah, while asking people, “whether we should give them citizenship or not?”. “But, the opposition Congress party, Lalu Prasad, Arvind Kerjriwal and Mamata Banerjee are opposing this…they speak the same language of Pakistan’s PM Imran Khan”, he added.

“It was the Congress government which had divided the country earlier on religious grounds…30% Hindus were living each in East (now Bangladesh) and west Pakistan but today there are only 7% Hindus in Bangladesh and 15% in Pakistan — who is responsible for this?”, asked Mr. Shah. “Lalu, Rahul and Company should answer where they have gone”, he said.

“When slogans like Bharat tere tukde honge hazaar were chanted in JNU, the Modi government sent them to jail but the Kejriwal government was opposing it…don’t you think they should be sent to jail?”, Mr. Shah asked the audience. When the new Citizenship Act came in there was communal tension in several parts of the country. “Congress party, Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Co. are responsible for the communal tension over CAA”, he alleged.

The BJP chief declared that “the process of construction of a Ram temple will begin in Ayodhya within four months”. He listed the abrogation of Article 370, 35 (A) and surgical strikes in Pakistan as the government’s achievements.

Mr. Shah asked party leaders and workers to undertake a door-to-door campaign in the State and explain to people the new citizenship law and how the Opposition has been spreading rumours over it.

On Tuesday Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had come to Gaya in Bihar to remove ‘misgivings’ on CAA but protesters sent up black balloons during his speech.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav too began his four-day Pratishodh Yatra in Muslim-dominated Seemanchal (border districts) on Thursday to intensify the anti-CAA stir.

Amit Shah sounds poll bugle in Bihar, says NDA to fight assembly elections under Nitish.

Source – indiatoday.in

Bihar elections this year will be fought under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. BJP and JDU would contest elections together and form the next government,” declared Amit Shah at BJP’s Citizenship Amendment Act awareness drive in Vaishali, Bihar.

Shah’s comment is seen as an attempt to silent motor mouth like Sanjay Paswan who has embarrassed BJP by demanding next CM face from the party. Paswan’s similar demand couple of months back had forced Shah to make same declaration.

Amit Shah also lashed out at the opposition while speaking at the CAA awareness drive blaming the Congress and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the violent protest that took place across the country immediately after Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed in both the Houses of Parliament.

“Congress and Mamta Banerjee & company have orchestrated the violence that has erupted across the country after CAB was passed in the parliament,” Shah said.

Mentioning Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Amit Shah blamed the opposition for misleading the people on CAA and propagating a false narrative against it.

CAA, NRC will not be implemented in Bihar, says Prashant Kishor.

Source – thehindu.com

National vice-president of Bihar ruling party Janata Dal (United) Prashant Kishor on Sunday thanked Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi for their “unequivocal rejection” of the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens while offering an assurance that both CAA and NRC will not be implemented in Bihar.

However, when asked for his comment on the National Population Register (NPR) for which the Bihar government issued a notification on December 18, 2019, Mr. Kishor told The Hindu that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has to clarify on the issue as Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi has already declared that the process of NPR would be started from May 15, 2020.

“I join my voice with all to thank #Congress leadership for their formal and unequivocal rejection of #CAA_NRC. Both @rahulgandhi & @priyankagandhi deserve special thanks for their efforts on this count. Also would like to reassure to all – Bihar me CAA-NRC implement nahi hoga [CAA-NRC will not be implemented in Bihar]”, tweeted Mr. Kishor. His tweet came a day after Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi at the party’s working committee meeting on Saturday said “NPR 2020 is a disguised NRC” and termed the CAA as “discriminator and divisive whose sinister purpose is to divide the country along religious lines.”

Mr. Kishor said West Bengal, Kerala and other States too had started the process of NPR before the controversy erupted but later, when they had a relook, they stopped it.

In December 2019 when asked about the implementation of NRC in Bihar, Mr. Kumar had quipped, “kahe ka NRC? [NRC for what?]”.

In January this year, his deputy Modi said “the process of NPR will start in Bihar” and “no government has the courage to stop the NPR exercise in their respective States.” “The first phase of Indian census 2021 and the process of National Population Register (NPR) in Bihar will be done between the period of May 15 to June 28’ 2020”, said the Bihar government notification issued in December last year.

Open to Discuss CAA in Parliament, No Question of NRC in Bihar, Says Nitish Kumar in Assembly.

Source – news18.com

New Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said there should be discussion on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and if all parties agree, then Parliament too should hold consultations on the contentious legislation that has triggered widespread protests.

Kumar, speaking on the floor of the House, also assured members that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) would not be implemented in the state and Prime Minister Narendra Modi too had made his stand clear on the issue.

NRC and the new citizenship law have created fissures in the JDU, an ally of the BJP, with party vice-president Prashant Kishor publicly asking Kumar to do a rethink on support to the legislation.

“I want to make it very clear that JD(U)’s stance on NRC and CAA is of opposition. Check parliamentary standing committee’s record, first dissent note is of JD(U). Under what circumstances JD(U) supported the bill in both houses only Nitish Kumar ji can tell,” Kishor had said.

The election strategist also urged non-BJP chief ministers to “save the soul of India” and take a stand against the contentious Act.

“The majority prevailed in Parliament. Now beyond judiciary, the task of saving the soul of India is on 16 Non-BJP CMs as it is the states who have to operationalise these acts,” he said.

The Bihar Chief Minister soon clarified that NRC would not be implemented in the state as he attempted to put to rest speculations raised by JD(U)’s support to the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Cornered by journalists who sought to know his views on nationwide NRC as envisaged by Home Minister Amit Shah, Kumar quipped: “Kaahe ka NRC? Bilkul laagu nahin hoga” (NRC, what for? Will not at all be implemented).

The new citizenship law, which seeks to make religion the test for granting citizenship, has been dubbed as “discriminatory” by critics who feel it is against the Muslim community.

Prashant Kishor thanks Congress for anti-CAA stand, repeats no NRC in Bihar.

Source – indiatoday.in

JD(U) vice-president and poll strategist Prashant Kishor took to Twitter on Sunday to declare that the Citizenship Amendment Act ( CAA ) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) will not be implemented in Bihar.

“I join my voice with all to thank #Congress leadership for their formal and unequivocal rejection of #CAA_NRC. Both @rahulgandhi & @priyankagandhi deserves special thanks for their efforts on this count. Also would like to reassure to all – Bihar me CAA-NRC implement nahi hoga [CAA-NRC will not be implemented in Bihar],” Prashant Kishor tweeted.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s party JD(U) had supported the Centre in passing the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019 in both houses of Parliament last month.

After Prashant Kishor’s declaration on Sunday, questions are being raised whether the CAA will be implemented in Bihar or not even as the Centre, two days ago, had issued a gazette notification announcing that the new law has come into effect from January 10, 2020.

However, there are several states ruled by Opposition, like Kerala and West Bengal, which has clearly stated that they will not implement the new citizenship law in their states.

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow on Saturday, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had reiterated that no states can oppose the implementation of the Act as it has already been passed by both the Houses of Parliament.

‘We are here because of our conscience’

Source – telegraphindia.com

About a hundred students from different educational institutions gathered at Taxi Stand on Main Road in Ranchi on Friday afternoon to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR).

The students read the Preamble to the Constitution in Hindi at the beginning of the roughly one-and-half-hour meeting. Then they staged a street play on the CAA, NRC and NPR, followed by recitation of poems the students had composed.

For many, this was the second day of protest.

“We are not affiliated to any political outfit and have been protesting as our conscience prompted us to do so,” said Shamam Arfeen, a Ranchi University student who was among the organisers of the protest.

Swati Sikha, a Ranchi girl who is pursuing her MA in political science at Ambedkar University in Delhi, added: “Those affiliated to any political outfit have their compulsion to agree or disagree with some political happenings but we are free from that and are doing what we felt right.”

Asked about the name of their group, Shamam smiled and said: “Well, if you ask, it’s Kahab to Lag Jai Dhak Se.…”

That’s actually the name of their WhatsApp group, taken from a song from the film Article 15.

“I protest as the CAA leaves out the Muslims and that violates the guarantee of equality to all as our Constitution provides,” Shamam said when asked.

There are Ahmedias and Sunnis among the Muslims in Pakistan who may be persecuted there, he argued, adding they may also need the same concession on grounds of compassion — if giving persecuted people refuge is indeed the motive of the law. 

He also pointed out that many poor people don’t have their birth certificates or other relevant documents as proof of their citizenship, asking if all of them would be termed as outsiders or stateless people in the proposed all-India NRC.

“As a student of political science, I don’t see CAA and NRC in isolation because both these look like interlinked parts of a policy of the present government to polarise people and strengthen their party’s vote bank,” said Swati. “We can’t accept the NRC as scores of genuine people without proper documents could be sent to detention camps for no fault of theirs.”

In a country where GDP growth slowing down with every passing day, it’s also not wise to incur huge expenditure on maintenance of detention camps, she added.

“Instead of promoting Islamophobia among the citizens, we expect the government to act to rejuvenate the economy and generate employment,” Swati said.

Kumar Yash, a Class XII student who also joined the protest, said: “After going through so many propaganda materials on social media, I felt the CAA and the NRC are planned to sideline a particular community and hence I felt like protesting against these.”

Before dispersing, the students sang the song Kahab to Lag Jai Dhak Se….

CAA ‘anti-people’ cry in Ranchi

Source – telegraphindia.com

Nearly 2,000 people protested peacefully against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR) at the Bapu Vatika in Morabadi here on Thursday.

A large number of people comprising activists, students, women including many in burqa, and members of various minority, tribal and political parties and civil society outfits took part in the Sankalp Sabha as the protest was named, hosted by the Sajha Manch, an united forum.

They started by reading out the Preamble of the Constitution under the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

Many speakers, irrespective of religious or political affiliation, described the CAA, NRC and NPR as “anti-constititional and anti-people”.

“The CAA violates Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution,” pointed out well-known activist Balram, adding that jal-jangal-jameen and the culture of the people of Jharkhand speak volumes about nationality. “Nothing else is required to prove it.”

“The BJP and RSS want to break the unity and social fabric of the country and spread hatred among communities,” alleged Ibrar Ahmad, the chief of the local Anjuman Islamia, a minority social outfit.

“The people of Jharkhand, in the Assembly recent polls, have rejected the BJP for its anti-people agenda,” said tribal activist Dayamani Barla, describing the CAA, NRC and NRP as “anti-people”.

Those who attended it included members of the United Milli Forum, the Anjuman Islamia, the Majlis-e-Ulema (Jharkhand), Muslim Youth Forum, political parties such as the Congress, the RJD, JVM, the Aam Admi Party and the CPI, and the organisations such as the National Alliance for People’s Movement, the All-India Students Federation, the Ulgunan Sena, the Janvadi Lekhak Sangh and the Indian People’s Theatre Association.

Former Congress Union minister Subodh Kant Sahay and other leaders sat through the proceedings to express their solidarity. Protesters carried placards with slogans opposing the CAA, NRC and NPR and “Mazhab nahi sikhata aapas mein bair rakhna from Allama Iqbal’s famous poem Saare Jahan Se Achcha…

Afzal Anees, an organiser, said the event was so peaceful that CM Hemant Soren’s motorcade passed peacefully.

Hemant, it is now known, opposed NRC and CAA and also expressed it through a two-part tweet on December 29. “I don’t think the NRC is feasible or implementable. The entire country is up in arms against CAA…”