Million March: Hyderabad cops impose curbs on 'biggest' anti-CAA protest

Around 40 Hyderabad-based social, voluntary organisations will take part in rally

CAA protest salil Representational image of a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act | Salil Bera

Hyderabad is bracing for what is purported to be the biggest protest programme by civil society groups against the Citizen (Amendment) Act (CAA) introduced by the BJP government at the Centre.

Around 40 Hyderabad-based social and voluntary organisations, along with activists, formed a joint action committee (JAC) to oppose the CAA, NRC and NPR. The organisers have been trying to get permission since more than one month to conduct a rally or march at Necklace Road, on the periphery of the Hussainsagar Lake.

The idea was to march some distance with lakhs of people to support the cause. However, the police did not accord permission, because of which the organisers moved the Telangana High Court and got some relief. With the High Court’s intervention, the proposed 'Million March' was rescheduled to Saturday.

The police, on their part, have been trying to regulate and impose curbs on the Million March. The venue was changed from Necklace Road to Dharna Chowk in Hyderabad. Then the organisers were asked to not hold any rallies, but instead opt for a meeting. After that, the local police officials have decided to allow only 1,000 people to gather at the protest site.

The organisers are not too happy with this development.

“The police should be lenient since it is not a political or communal protest. This is very much constitutional and we have a right to protest peacefully,” said Mohammad Aziz, president, Movement for Peace and Justice, one of the organisers of the event.

“The police wants only 1,000 people to be at Dharna Chowk, but a few thousands more may land up. It is not our duty to maintain law and order. They can be little cooperative and make sure that protesters are not put to inconvenience even if more people attend. Lot of people want to support our demand and they are all responsible citizens,” Aziz argued.

Permission has been given to the organisers to conduct the meeting between 2pm and 5pm.