Amidst the current protests in India, a Muslim couple tied the knot at the site of anti-CAA protest in Chennai on Monday, February 17.
The couple had a unique wedding ceremony while holding anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) placards in hands that read: “No CAA, NPR, NRC.”
Sumayya and Shahin Shah decided to get married at the site of a protest in the capital of Tamil Nadu. Their marriage was solemnized by an Imam among the crowd of protesters. Sumayya wore a bright red saree with heavy zari work while the groom, Shahin Shah, wore a maroon jacket.
The couple received a warm welcome from the crowd and they received gifts and cash presents.
The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 was passed by the Parliament of India on 11 December 2019 and has caused an uproar in India and sparked protests across the country.
Under the CAA 2019, religious minorities that have taken refuge in India till 2014 are eligible for citizenship. However, the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB 2019) makes it a point to exclude Muslims. The law requires Indian Muslims to prove their origins in India otherwise they stand to lose their citizenship.
After condemning the attack on New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) which left more than two dozen injured, Deepika Padukone arrived at the university to stand in solidarity with the students.
Good that big Bollywood stars, with much to lose, like @deepikapadukone@aliaa08@sonamakapoor have taken clear positions against the violence in JNU. They can hardly be called the usual suspects or the tukde-tukde gang. It’s the major male actors who’s silence is now deafening.
The female of the species is, and was, and will always be the strongest of the two #DeepikaPadukone . Chhapak first day all shows . Let’s all those who stand against the violence go to @bookmyshow and show them. Make our silent statement which will be the loudest .
All those making snide remarks on @deepikapadukone’s visit to JNU as a movie promotion exercise, well, she could have chosen SRCC, Amity or Nirma University if it was only to promote a film. The fact that she CHOSE to visit JNU is a brave choice given the times we live in.
Cynics who think @deepikapadukone’s appearance at #JNU is a publicity stunt, remember this: The right wing publicly threatened to chop her nose off, *and* delayed her film’s release, only 2 years ago. Don’t pretend like she isn’t aware of the stakes.
Actor @deepikapadukone meeting #AisheGhosh in #JNU. She’s at ground zero despite knowing the backlash it will receive from RW goons who will attempt to boycott her film which releases in two days. Coming from Deepika who has largely been silent on political issues this is BIG. pic.twitter.com/xaNTHpezfU
Deepika Padukone, the biggest female star of the Indian film industry and one of the most powerful celebrities in the world, standing with the students of JNU Delhi is simply beautiful.
At the time when the biggest male stars don’t even have the empathy to tweet a few words.
— Tajinder Bagga (Modi Ka Parivar) (@TajinderBagga) January 7, 2020
This is callous. Those calling to boycott #Chhapaak because @deepikapadukone went to #JNU are forgetting the movie is about an acid attack survivour whose story Deepika has dared to share. How can one forget the cause the brave actress has espoused ? #ISupportDeepikapic.twitter.com/iWlAcpht4C
Previously, in a media interaction when asked about the ongoing protests, Deepika had said that she is proud that the students are not scared of expressing themselves.
“I feel proud about it that people are coming out – be it on the streets or wherever they are – they are raising their voice and expressing themselves as it is important. If we want to see change in life and society, it is important that a point of view be put forward,” Deepika had said.
On Sunday masked assailants wielding batons and iron rods attacked JNU leaving more than two dozen injured. According to an Indian journalist, the masked mob was linked to a BJP linked student group. They barged into hostel rooms and assaulted left-wing students and also beat up visually impaired people. There were reports that they were carrying acid as well.
Deepika’s presence at the protest signifies that she is most likely standing with them in protest of these BJP-linked attacks and not the tuition fees hike protests that had been happening at the university earlier. The hostel fee hike is an ongoing issue and protests were held against it previously.
Following the attack, several Bollywood personalities including Vishal Bharadwaj, Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar, Dia Mirza, Rahul Bose, Richa Chadha and Taapsee Pannu led hundreds of people in a peaceful protest against the violence.
Apart from that, Alia Bhatt also condemned the incident.
As did Anil Kapoor, who while speaking to reporters had said, “It has to be condemned. It was quite sad, shocking, what I saw. It was very disturbing. I couldn’t sleep the entire night, thinking what has happened. It has to be condemned. Nothing will come out of violence. Whoever did this, they should be published.”
A video of Indian Police destroying vehicles parked outside a house during a protest against India’s citizenship bill has gone viral on the internet.
The video shows a police official attacking a parked car and a motorbike outside a house in Bulandshhar city Uttar Pradesh while throwing stones at the protestors.
Moreover, other videos of police randomly destroying vehicles in Lucknow and other areas, even where no one is protesting are also getting viral on the social media.
At least 23 people have been killed in clashes between police and protesters since parliament passed the anti-Muslims law on December 11.
India’s parliament had earlier passed a contentious citizenship bill that will grant citizenship to illegal immigrants who entered India from three neighbouring countries before 2015, but won’t grant citizenship to people who are Muslims.
