Clarion India
MUMBAI 一 Over two dozen personalities from the film industry have denounced the ongoing arrests of students and young activists by Delhi police in connection with the protest movement against CAA and NRC even as the country is under an unprecedented lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus.
“These actions of Delhi Police are utterly inhuman and undemocratic,” a statement put out by the group of artists said.
The statement after two students of Jamia Millia Islamia – Meeran Haider and Safoor Zargar have been arrested by the Delhi police amid the lockdown. Some protesters have also been arrested from Delhi’s Jafferabad.
Notable names who have signed the statement are: Mahesh Bhat, Anurag Kashyap, Vishal Bhardwaj, Zeeshan Ayyub and Nandidta Das, Aparna Sen, Malika Dua, Abish Mathew.
The statement mentioned that the police are using the pretext of Delhi violence and taking advantage of the lockdown to witch-hunt activists most of whom come from the Muslim community.
“The lockdown can not be a lockdown of the rights of citizens and must not be abused by the authorities in this manner,” the artists said in the statement.
While reiterating the constitutional rights of the citizen to protest against the government and its policies they said that they continue to oppose the controversial Citizenship amendment Act (CAA). “It is a bigoted law that strikes the secular fabric of our country.”
While demanding the release of the activists, they urged the Delhi police to “put an end to the witch-hunt”.
Here is the full statement:
