NEW DELHI: The Muslim women of Shaheen Bagh raised the fire of revolution during the ongoing protest against the citizenship law. The agitation which started with only 10 to 15 women gradually increased to 50 and then 100 women.
Now, despite the freezing temperatures, hundreds of women of all age groups have been camping day and night for the past 17 days in New Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh neighbourhood showing to the world that Muslim women don’t need to be ‘saved’ by BJP and they can very well fight for their rights.
From the hijab-clad young mothers holding their babies, to 90-year-old grandmothers (Dadis and Nanis), the Shaheen Bagh ki auratein (as popularly known) have taken to the streets to oppose the passing of the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Hum Kagaz Nahin Dikhayenge
Braving the biting cold, among the protesters was a 80-year-old Bilquis you can spot.
Granny Bilquis sit in protest under a makeshift roof made of clothes said, “Hum Kagaz Nahin Dikhayenge. Pehle Tum Dikhao”.
Yeh mulk mera hai
Undeterred by the severe cold wave, granny Bilquis joined in solidarity against the Citizenship Amendment Act and and the National Register of Citizens.
The granny refused to relent saying, “I am not going to show my papers to anyone to prove I belong here. Yeh mulk mera hai.”
Her determination to sit through the cold is not just for herself but to save the democracy.
Samvidhaan bachaana hai
Another one is 20-day-old Umme Habeeba, the youngest protestor at Shaheen Bagh.
Her mother Rehana Khatoon went through a delivery 20 days back and the lady has been sitting with her infant.
On being asked about the problems the infant will faced, the mother protester said: “Uparwale Pe Bharosa Hai. Samvidhaan Bachaana Hai… Baithengey.”
For a fortnight now, the protest movement erupted in Shaheen Bagh and other Muslim-dominated neighbourhood in opposition to the Citizenship Act is leaderless.
No political party or organisation is leading the protest and was fueled primarily by the residents.
Several videos doing the rounds on the internet with students along with locals could be seen demanding “Azadi” (freedom) from CAA and NRC.
