Thousands form human chain in city against CAA, NRC on R-Day

Thousands of people from different communities formed an 11-km-long human chain from north to south of the city on Sunday to protest against the amended Citizenship Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens.

On the occasion of 71st Republic Day, people assembled around 15 junctions in the city from Shyambazar to Golpark to form the human chain for 10 minutes at noon.

Organised by United Interfaith Foundation India (UIFI), an inter-faith group comprising leaders of different religious communities in the state, the event witnessed an "overwhelming response" as people from all walks of life participated in it.

"People held the national flag, read out from the Preamble of the Constitution, chanted 'Jana Gana Mana', 'Saare Jahan Se Achha, Hindustan Hamara' and 'Jai Hind'. They took the pledge to safeguard the tenets of the Constitution which calls for secularism, equality, non-discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, community," UIFI General Secretary Satnam Ahluwalia told PTI.

A sizeable section of the participants was the youth and women while many passers-by spontaneously took part in the programme.

"Large gatherings were at Ripon Street, Mullick Bazar, Park Street and Park Circus with children also holding hands of their parents," he said.

Shabina, a woman standing in the human chain along with her 13-year-old son and husband at Raja Bazar crossing, said, "I have learnt about the programme only on Friday evening and decided to come with my family. We are Indians and remain united despite attempts to divide us."