COVID-19:Bengal version of 'Shaheen Bagh' to continue anti-CAA

On a day police removed protesters against the amended Citizenship Act at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi, agitators at the Bengal version of the Shaheen Bagh here at Park Circus on Tuesday agreed to the state government's request and decided that only a batch of seven will contiue the stir till the coronavirus crisis ends.

About 50 women protesters have been holding protest together at the Park Circus which will now come down to seven on a rotational basis in conformity with the state governmen's lockdown notification on coronavirus that not more than seven persons shall assemble together as part of the social distancing drill against COVID-19.

The demonstration on the lines of Shaheen Bagh in Delhi began at Park Circus Maidan on January 7 with 60 women protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Burqa clad protesters chanting "azadi" have been continuing with the agitation.

"We were requested by the government to stop gathering of protesters and carry demonstration in smaller numbers on a rotational basis. This has been allowed by the government," said Asmat Jamil, one of the organisers of the dharna.

The seven people will sit at a safe distance from each other taking every precaution required, she said.

"We are fighting for our rights. The coronavirus outbreak is causing havoc across the world," Jamil said.

The Park Circus anti-CAA protesters had continued with their agitation ignoring Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for "janata curfew" against the deadly virus on Sunday last.

BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha welcomed the move, but said the protest should be called off now as the country is facing an "emergency medical situation and this not a time for politics".