Bhopal: Aziz Qureshi, former Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Mizoram and Uttarakhand, has said that he would be first to offer myself for arrest if the police thwarts our attempts to hold protest meetings.
Attending a meeting of the people involved in protests against CAA, NRC and NPR he said, “In whichever corner of UP I am invited to, I will peacefully and bravely protest against the draconian laws. If I do not do that I will become a second-class citizen.”
The meeting was held on the subject of “Save the Constitution, save the country” campaign in a Maha-panchayat rally.
Social workers Ameeq Jaami and Mahesh Dixit met with Qureshi regarding the leadership role. They requested him to take on the mantle to steer the ‘Save the Constitution, Save the Country’ campaign.
He stated, “Considering the way the state government has violently clamped down upon demonstrations in Lucknow in September, it is clear that the state government want to take away the right to voice dissent and demonstrate peacefully.”
Congratulating those associated with “Aaeen bacho mulk bachaao” he praised those who came together and helped bail out innocent and poor families from Lucknow jails.
“I have devoted my whole life to preserving the country’s unity, constitution, democracy. I will be the first to give myself up to the police upon any legal action against me. Wherever I’m asked to lead, I will be at the forefront with you all. I would also like to tell the people of Uttar Pradesh that if you do not fight today, then the poor and especially the Muslims will be reduced to being second-class citizens.”
He elaborated, “We have to make the country of Gandhi, Patel, Nehru, Lohia, Ambedkar and Maulana Abul Kalaam Azad secular again. Please tread the path of nonviolence bravely against this dangerous legislation.”
Azeez Qureshi saluted the mothers and daughters of Shaheen Baagh, Khureji, Salimpur, Allahabad, and Ghanta Ghar of Lucknow.
He also proclaimed, “From my own experience, I have seen that in countries where women have participated in protests, change has become inevitable.”