When India went into lockdown in late March to check the spread of the novel coronavirus, the measure brought an end to massive protests against a citizenship law seen to be discriminatory that had rocked the country for months, but the police persecution of the activists has been relentless since then.
Arrests under repressive laws have multiplied as citizens and the media remain preoccupied with the growing number of Covid-19 cases in the country.
The Shaheen Bagh neighborhood of Delhi had been the symbolic center of the protests since December.
For months, large groups of protesters led by women stood up against a controversial amendment to the Citizenship Amendment Act, that granted citizenship to persecuted minorities from neighboring countries except Muslims.
Now, the only remaining signs of the protests on the streets of Shaheen Bagh are some paintings on the ground, next to metal plates and flags full of slogans that have become a makeshift home for several homeless people.
Remnants from the protests
Paintings left on the Road during the protests
Exscript for Interview:
1. It (the protest against NRC/CAA) had to be stopped because the coronavirus disease was spreading across the country and all over the world. So when the government imposed the lockdown, we stopped the protest, because we are not against the government per se, and the virus is very dangerous for everyone.
2. Earlier the government probably didn’t know what could be the repercussions of the law they have brought. Now because of the protest, not just the government but the whole world has got to know what are the people’s problems with the law. So now the government knows that if they try to implement this law, it could lead to problems.
Source: (c) Agencia EFE
With permission from Reuters
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