An altercation between a group of women, who were organising a pro-CAA meeting at a temple in Ernakulam, and another woman, who allegedly tried to disrupt the meet, has taken social media by storm, with debates, trolls and memes flooding Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp.
The high drama unfolded on Wednesday after Athira, a native of Thiruvananthapuram, allegedly entered the hall at the Pavakulam temple and tried to disrupt a meeting of the Jana Jagrati Samiti to clarify the new Citizenship (Amendment) Act. A video of the incident has now gone viral.
In the video, Athira can be seen asking the participants aren't they ashamed to organise such a meeting. This led to an ugly verbal spat with a group of women—apparently the organisers of the meeting—yelling and screaming at her and forcing her out of the hall.
However, what set social media on fire is the aggressive and livid comments passed during the altercation. On of the women, who has sindoor(vermilion) smeared on her forehead, can be heard screaming: “Do you know why I am wearing this sindoor? I have two daughters and I don't want them to be touched by any kakkas (a derogatory term used for Muslim men).
The woman's words, which have since then given fodder to trolls, are clearly a reference to the 'Love Jihad'—a yet-to-be-proven allegation of the right-wing groups.
One of the organisers of the meet was C.V. Sajini, state convenor of the BJP business cell. Based on her complaint, Ernakulam North Police took Athira into custody and soon released her on bail. The case has now been shifted to All Women Police Station in Ernakulam North.
Kerala has been witnessing widespread protests against the CAA. According to the Act, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014, and facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship.
In a rare show of unity, both the LDF and the opposition UDF in the state have joined hands to protest against the Union government.
