Taking strong exception to deputy chief minister Nitin Patel’s statement against those protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), well-known danseuse Mallika Sarabhai has joined tens of activists and students and faculty of Gujarat University, CEPT University, Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad, Gujarat Vidyapeeth and Nirma University to say that they are seeking “azadi” from the fascist and communal forces of the country.
Patel, speaking on the occasion of birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose on January 23, had said that those seeking “azadi” should be allowed to leave the country if they wanted freedom. Claiming that “India is a free country and the biggest democracy of the world,” Patel had added, India was ruled by Muslims for 800 years, but “if these so-called secular, leftists continue to rule India then at some point they can come back to power in this country.”
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| Nitin Patel |
The statement, which called the Modi government “undemocratic, non-secular, autocratic, authoritarian, grossly bigoted and utterly intolerant”, said, it is trying to “divide our country”, adding, “We are also seeking azadi from poverty, inequality, crime against women and LGBTQ+, cronyism, nepotism, capitalism, and various other sociopolitical ills.”
The statement continued, “We all are Indians and we have been democratically protesting at various places in Gujarat against CAA-NRC-National Population Register (NPR). We never differentiate between Gujaratis, Kashmiris, Bengalis, Malayalees, Marathis, Marwaris, Assamese, Biharis etc. We are one and will always be, therefore kindly refrain from dividing us and our struggle along cultural, linguistic, regional and religious lines.”
Pointing out that they draw their strength from the Constitution, and wondering whether he owes allegiance to the statute book, the statement (click here for signatories) told Patel: “We will be continuing our democratic and peaceful fight till we are successful in defeating the communal and divisive forces.”
The statement continued, “We all are Indians and we have been democratically protesting at various places in Gujarat against CAA-NRC-National Population Register (NPR). We never differentiate between Gujaratis, Kashmiris, Bengalis, Malayalees, Marathis, Marwaris, Assamese, Biharis etc. We are one and will always be, therefore kindly refrain from dividing us and our struggle along cultural, linguistic, regional and religious lines.”
Pointing out that they draw their strength from the Constitution, and wondering whether he owes allegiance to the statute book, the statement (click here for signatories) told Patel: “We will be continuing our democratic and peaceful fight till we are successful in defeating the communal and divisive forces.”
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