Amidst a flurry of discontent, a group of migrants hailing from Pakistan and Afghanistan surged past barricades on Friday, venting their frustrations against leaders affiliated with the INDIA bloc and the Congress in the heart of the national Capital. Their ire was particularly directed at the recent remarks made by these political figures regarding the notification of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rules.
Clutching placards that mirrored their dissatisfaction with INDIA bloc leaders, the demonstrators marched towards the Congress headquarters, their voices raised in protest. The scene near the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters on Ashoka Road was fraught with tension as the demonstrators confronted a robust police presence.
Multiple layers of barricades had been erected by the police to impede the refugees' march towards the Congress headquarters, resulting in a standoff between the two sides. "We fled from Pakistan to shield our daughters and mothers from atrocities. Despite our suffering, these leaders stand against us. Now, political figures like Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, and Rahul Gandhi are voicing opposition to the government's move to grant us citizenship," expressed Brij Lal, encapsulating the sentiments of many in the crowd.
Earlier, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, Jairam Ramesh, had voiced reservations about the timing of the implementation of the CAA rules. The Congress party emphasized that the contentious nature of this legislation stemmed from its departure from the constitutional principle that citizenship should be religion-neutral.
The protests were not confined to this incident alone. The previous day, Hindu migrants from Afghanistan and Pakistan staged a demonstration outside the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, aggrieved by his remarks on the recently-notified CAA. Thousands of Hindu and Sikh refugees from these countries call the national Capital home, and they came out in force, wielding placards and chanting slogans against CM Kejriwal, demanding an apology for what they perceived as a misguided statement that adversely impacted the Hindu community.
Responding to the protests, CM Kejriwal accused the BJP of backing the agitators, insinuating their role in orchestrating the unrest. "Today, a group of Pakistanis protested outside my residence, causing disruption. The Delhi Police accorded them full respect and protection, with the BJP offering their unwavering support," CM Kejriwal asserted in a tweet, further fueling the political firestorm surrounding the issue.
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