Sporadic protests in MP against CAA

Sporadic protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) were held across Madhya Pradesh by political leaders and students on Thursday.

Panna town witnessed a silent procession. Bhopal had seen peaceful protests against the CAA and NRC on Monday where hundreds had gathered led by Congress leader Arif Masood.

Masood had vehemently opposed the bill when it was presented and threatened to quit the assembly if it was enforced in the state.

Protests in Khandwa turned violent when a march was taken out in the town. When police prevented the protesters from holding a rally, stones were pelted in Imlipura and Bada Bam area.

A police official said a large number of people defied the prohibitory orders under section 144 in force in the town and gathered in the Idgah area. While returning from the venue they raised slogans. On being prevented from doing so they pelted stones resulting in tension in the communally sensitive town, the official said.

Some youths also held a protest carrying placards with slogans against the CAA and the NRC. Police canecharged the protesting youths who indulged in stone pelting which damaged a car and some properties.

City Superintendent of Police (CSP) Lalit Gathre and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Keshav Pande among others soon reached the spot to control the situation. Heated exchanges took place between the police and the protesters, eyewitnesses said. The situation is under control now, Khandwa SP Sihvdayal Singh said.

Congress governments in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Rajasthan have refused to implement the CAA. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath had, on December 16, said the Congress party is against anything which scares anyone or triggers suspicion in anyone's mind.

The diversity of cultures forms the identity of the country and we are opposed to anything which goes against this tradition, the Chief Minister said.

However, even as some states have opposed the CAA, the Union Home Ministry claims that the states do not have any power over its implementation. "The new legislation has been enacted under the Union List of the 7th Schedule of the Constitution. The states have no power to reject it," a MHA official said.

In Panna town the students protested through a peaceful demonstration carrying placards with black bands tied around their mouths. The protesters submitted a memorandum to the President through the Tehsildar.IANS