Hundreds of protesters, mainly students, mostly from the Indian diaspora, gathered outside the Indian High Commission in London (India House) on Wednesday 18 December evening to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The protest was organised by the South Asia Solidarity Group and the SOAS India Society. It was also joined by Indian Workers Association Great Britain (established since 1938).
Students, braving the rain, from SOAS, London School of Economics- to name a few were seen holding placards that read ‘In solidarity with the students of JMI’, ‘Reject police brutality', ‘Defend Ambedkar’s Constitution’, ‘Reject CAA Boycott NRC’, ‘Stop police brutality,’ ‘Simon Modi Go Back’,‘No to the Religion Test for Indian citizenship’ and ‘identification is the first step towards fascism. Resist, organise, Revolt.’
Everybody together loudly chanted ‘Azadi haq hain humara, hum lar ke Lenge azadi, Cheen ke Lenge azadi’ (independence is our right. We will fight and take it back.’ And ‘Inqilaab Zindabad’.
A student told Asian Voice “We have students here from Pakistan, Bangladesh and India from various colleges, such as LSE, SOAS, University of London. They are not all Muslims. We have people from all religions and we are all completely against the NRC and the CAA. We stand in solidarity with the students of Jamia Millia Islamia college and Aligarh Muslim University."
Dyal Bagri, President of the Indian Workers’ Association Great Britain, an 80 year old organisation in a statement told the newspaper, “This hurriedly approved Bill has at a stroke removed rights especially from Muslim migrants. It undermines the basis of India’s secular democratic constitution.
“We as patriotic Indians feel let down and angered that our great country, that led the way in diversity and tolerance, should act in such a manner. Refugees from all over the world have always been welcomed and accommodated in India. Never before has India introduced exceptions and exclusions based on faith.”
At a smaller protest in Radcliffe Square in Oxford on Tuesday, students had reportedly read out the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.
Students at Cambridge university will also be holding an anti-NRC and anti-CAA protest in Cambridge city on Thursday.
