After the BJP-led government introduced the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), there have been continuous protests by people across India. But a group of people in Bengaluru came together to tell people to reject CAA in a very novel, anti-climactic way — by distributing roses. Syed Latheef, who led this particular campaign called Reject CAA, says, "Initially, my friends and I dressed up as Santa Claus, some wore a skull cap and some wore saffron colour clothes to show that people are united. We were standing at the Mekhri Circle holding a banner that read, 'We oppose CAA and NRC'."
Strangely enough, the Bengaluru Police would have none of it and they detained them promptly before dropping them off home, "Though we were not shouting any slogans and it was a silent protest, the police detained us. We don't know why they did not take us to the police station and instead dropped us at our homes."
Latheef and his friend do not believe in spreading hatred but only love among people. Therefore, after the police dropped them home, they bought over 300 roses to distribute it to people. He explains, "We gave roses to everyone who came our way including the traffic police. We were holding small placards in our hands that read 'We Indians stand against NRC and reject Citizenship Amendment Act 2019'. People understood as we approached to give them these flowers and their responses were positive. We told them that today this Act has been passed to target a particular community in India. In the near future, they might target others."
When we asked if any police detained them while distributing flowers, he laughs and says, "None of the police officials detained us when we were distributing flowers. We will continue to do this every now and then until the government withdraws the Act."