On Wednesday 8th January a 12-hour protest was organised by the South Asian Students Against Fascism, UK, and SOAS India Society outside the India High Commission in London. The demonstration which started at 8 in the morning and concluded at the same time in the evening was organised in solidarity with the nationwide trade union strike in India against the latest Citizenship Amendment Act introduced by the BJP Government in India. Chanting slogans, reciting poems and hosting demonstrations, historians, academics and students voiced their concerns about the oppression of students in Indian universities of JNU, Jamia Islamia among others.
“We stand against the recent spate of violence against the students of Jamia and Aligarh Muslim University which were brutally targeted with tear gas and firing. They not only entered campuses but also libraries to attack students because they were protesting against the CAA-NRC. We stand with the women protestors of Shaheen Bagh who have carried their struggle for more than 15 days now,” noted a spokesperson of the South Asian Students Against Fascism, UK.
The sit-in was a voice of many organisations and students coming together to stand against alleged oppression and violence against minorities, opposition to NRC and CAA and express solidarity with the people of Kashmir, Assam, JNU, AMU and minorities.
Around 200 people, who participated in the protest, demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah. They also called for the restoration of internet and withdrawal of troops from Northeast and Kashmir. The protesters asked for an immediate repeal of the CAA, immediate release and medical care to Chandrashekhar Azad, Akhil Gogoi.
The group was joined by activists from the London Mining Network, London Anti-Fascist Assembly, and GBM Trade Union along with anti-fascist activists from Kurdistan and Iran.
“This demonstration is sending a clear message to the Indian government that the rise of totalitarianism, dictatorship and fascism is not to be tolerated,” said Satpal Muman of CasteWatch UK.
The protest was peaceful.
