MH-CAA-PATKAR

Centre destroying country's future through CAA & NRC: Patkar
    Mumbai, Jan 23 (PTI) Veteran social activist Medha
Patkar on Thursday accused the Centre of conspiring to destroy
the future of the country through the Citizenship (Amendment)
Act (CAA), the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the
National Population Register (NPR).
    Speaking at a public meeting organised by People's
Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) in suburban Bandra, she also
alleged that the government was trying to divert the people's
attention from the core issue through these things.
    "CAA, NRC and NPR- these things are part of the
central government's conspiracy to destroy the future of the
nation. This government is doing it for political mileage.
Very cleverly it is diverting the people's attention so that
it can divest the profit-making units," she said.
    "The government does not have the guts to visit the
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), the Jamia Millia Islamia
and Shaheen Baug, and hold talks with the protesters," she
alleged.
    Lauding those protesting against the CAA, NRC and NPR,
the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) founder said, "We salute the
protesters. It is a big achievement as Muslim women, too, are
participating in the protest."
    On the occasion, members of the fact-finding team of
PUCL narrated their experiences about the alleged police
atrocities in Uttar Pradesh after the anti-CAA protests broke
late last year. Activists of different organisations were also
present there.
    Faisal Khan from Delhi's Khudai Khidmadgar Foundation
alleged, "At least 23 persons lost their lives and several
others were either arrested or detained and their properties
destroyed in the violence in Uttar Pradesh in the wake of
anti-CAA protests."
    "Internet was shut down and prominent lawyers,
activists and even mediapersons, who daredto question the
violence, were picked up. Lawyers who went to police stations
to enquire about those detained were themselves put behind
bars in UP," he added. PTI ZA
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)