As protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act continue across the country, several state governments have imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on Thursday. Restrictions have been placed near Red Fort in Delhi as well along with Section 144 in parts of Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. Several metro stations have been closed and barricades placed on the capital city borders.
In Bengaluru, the protestors decided to carry on with their demonstrations despite the imposition. The protests were supposed to be held at two places in the city — one in front of Town Hall and the other near Mysore Bank Circle. However, most of the protestors have been detained by the police because they are defying prohibitory orders and come out to protest against the CAA.
Historian Ramachandra Guha was also detained in Bengaluru as he was a part of the protest near Town Hall on Thursday morning. According to a report by Scroll.in, moments before the police detained him, historian Ramachandra Guha said: "We are protesting against this totally discriminatory act which is against our Constitution and also Section 144. Are we a colonial regime? British Raj used Section 144 to suppress Gandhi ji’s movement. I feel sorry for the police that masters in Delhi have to give them these orders. We are for the values of pluralism and democracy. I am the biographer of Mahatma Gandhi. I know what Gandhi ji stood for, and the present government in Delhi, the BJP government, is totally antithetical to the values of the freedom struggle and the Hindu-Muslim unity that Gandhi advocated."
One of the protestors, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Edex that police have been randomly picking up students and others while they are on their way to the venue of the protest at Town Hall. "There's no one at the venue now, police detained almost everyone who came to protest since morning. Me and some of my friends were on our way too but we heard and stopped before we reached Town Hall. We do not know what our next course of action will be. We have to figure something out," the protestor, who is a working professional in Bengaluru added.
Even when police has been on a spree in detaining the protestors, some Bangaloreans still do not want to back down from their stance. "Bangalore protest will go on. Be prepared to be detained. DM for list of lawyers who can help. Dear all, when injustice becomes the law, then resistance becomes our duty. Calling on all Bangaloreans to gather at town hall to voice our protest against the unconstitutional CAA as well as the unconstitutional imposition of prohibitory order under section 144. Police must be non-partisan, and must act as the servants, of the people, not puppets of the political dispensation. Please bring your own placards. We will not be silenced," a message issued by the Naavu Bharatiyaru Campaign/Hum Bharat Ke Log in Bengaluru said. They also warned people that there is a chance of detention/arrest and police action and urged them to come prepared.
Prohibitory orders have been imposed in Dakshina Kannada district till the midnight of December 21 in the backdrop of the protests against the CAA. Dakshina Kannada district Deputy Commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh has enforced prohibitory orders in the entire district in view of the possibility of the law order situation and public peace getting vitiated. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa accused the opposition Congress of fuelling protests against the controversial act. "Because of people like UT Khader situation is becoming like this," he said. "Taking care of Muslims is our responsibility. Request all to maintain peace. If Congress leaders continue to support protests then they’ll face consequences."
