Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Anti-CAA stir in Chennai passes off peacefully amid police vigil
Policemen With Water Cannon, Riot Gear On Route

TIMES NEWS NETWORK


Chennai:24.12.2019

With several thousand workers of opposition parties descending on Egmore to participate in a rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), it was a smorgasbord of emotions — rage, desperation and hope — that was on display.

While a section of protesters belonging to Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) sought to add fervour to the show by beating drums, others chose to walk silently from the CMDA building to Rajarathinam stadium in Egmore.

Four drones of the city police kept a watch on the rally route, capturing every minute detail. More than 100 police personnel in plain clothes video-recorded the procession from highrise buildings.

Cadres of the DMK, CPM, Congress, MDMK, VCK and IUML started turning up around 9 am. They waited for almost an hour for their leaders to arrive. DMK president M K Stalin, former Union minister P Chidambaram, DMK youth wing chief Udayanidhi Stalin, MP Kanimozhi, DMK treasurer S Duraimurugan and principal secretary T R Baalu reached the starting point around 10 am.

A contingent of anti-riot police in full gear and vehicles fitted with water cannons were stationed at vantage points to pre-empt any violence during the rally. Senior police officials could be seen keeping a watch on the procession.

DMK youth wing cadres regulated the crowd to prevent any run-in with police personnel. They kept telling protesters to maintain discipline along the route.

A few effigies kept by protesters along the route were removed by police personnel. Many DMK district heads brought in their own photographers to record the attendance from their respective regions. They raised slogans attacking the Centre and the state government. However, the turnout of youth and women was below par.

While there were many who seemed well informed about CAA, there were many who had no idea about the issue. Many were confused between CAA and NRC. But they were united in blaming the BJP for disturbing the secular fabric of the country.

“This Act isn’t good for the nation. It’s not just about Muslims, in the days to come this will create major problems for the entire nation,” said Veeramani N, a 68-yearold protester from Perambur.

“This Act divides people on the basis of religion. This is not the end. It is only the beginning,” said his friend Vanadhi L from Royapuram.



IN UNISON : Members of the DMK and its allies led by M K Stalin take out a rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act from CMDA office to Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore on Monday

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