‘Why this Kolam-veri?’: Chennai cops’ detention of anti-CAA protestors draws ire

On Sunday morning, a small group of Chennai residents decided to show their dissent against CAA, NRC and NPR by drawing kolams on the streets of Besant Nagar.

news Anti-CAA

“Case for filing Kolams? Under what section? Unlawful assembly of rice flour?” “You are scared of kolam? Really? Mighty state and central government?” “Why this Kolam Veri Chennai police?" “Congratulations, Chennai police for arresting these criminal youngsters – we all know how dangerous and lethal rangoli can be! You must spare none. Time to start raiding community centres & marriage halls too - check for subversive kolam! And brides/grooms holding placards?!”

These are just some of the comments on social media platforms by people who are angry with the Chennai police for detaining people who drew kolams on the streets of Besant Nagar as a mark of dissent against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC), and the National Population Register (NPR). Five of the protestors were forcibly detained by the police and were taken to a wedding hall near the J5 police station at Shastri Nagar. Soon, two of their lawyers who had gone to the station, too, were detained.

Following widespread criticism of the Chennai City police on social media by people questioning their action of detaining peaceful protestors who chose to express dissent in a creative way, all seven of them were released. The protestors along with their lawyers were detained for about an hour and a half.

DMK Chief MK Stalin was among those who reacted against the action taken by the police. “The anarchy of the state is increasing day by day. In Besant Nagar, Chennai, the police has arrested six people who have protested their opposition to the CAA bill and did not even allow them to express the fundamental rights granted to them by the Constitution,” he wrote.

A lot of people took to social media to show their displeasure.

Congratulations @chennaipolice_ for arresting these criminal youngsters - we all know how dangerous and lethal #Rangoli can be!



You must spare none. Time to start raiding community centres & marriage halls too - check for subversive #Kolam! And brides/grooms holding placards?! https://t.co/ELIyBRPk7S — Rakesh Sharma (@rakeshfilm) December 29, 2019

#Kolam



What ever way is there we oppose poisonous #CAA



Rangoli is our tool pic.twitter.com/bUpABJlirh — GRACE BANU (@thirunangai) December 29, 2019

In a first, 5 arrested by #Chennai police for carrying out a Rangoli/Kolam protest against #CAA_NRC



New benchmark by city police #CAA_NRC_Protests #NRC_CAA_Protest pic.twitter.com/A20jAcGWEm — Shabbir Ahmed (@Ahmedshabbir20) December 29, 2019

You are scared of kolam? Really? Mighty state and central government? — Krupa Ge (@krupage) December 29, 2019

Can you imagine 5 people, including girls were detained in Chennai for drawing this Kolam. Request all friends in Chennai to make kolams all along and protest. #WhatADemocracy #Resistance #NoToNRC #NoToNPR. pic.twitter.com/dh3m0vUoAT — Kannan Gopinathan (@naukarshah) December 29, 2019

5 women detained in the community hall outside j5 Besant nagar for drawing KOLAMS with anti CAA/NRC messages.



WHAT A JOKE, CHENNAI POLICE! pic.twitter.com/KMKed6Byck — Azhar (@lonelyredcurl) December 29, 2019

7 people who were detained for putting anti CAA kolams, and 3 lawyers who went to meet the detainees, now released. #CAAProtest #ChennaiProtestsCAA pic.twitter.com/YQ4cFPMK7C — NityanandJayaraman (@NityJayaraman) December 29, 2019

Dear #TamilNadu , let us ALL put kolams like this in front of our houses. Let's give TN Police busy. https://t.co/aQyWxbY60w December 29, 2019

Case for filing Kolams? Under what section? Unlawful assembly of rice flour? — Saravana Raja (@saravana_raja) December 29, 2019

Speaking to TNM, Gayathri, one of those who was detained said, “Is it wrong to draw kolam? We’re only doing it outside homes and not on public roads. How can this be unlawful assembly? I have the right to express my dissent. We are not vandalsing anything. If they don’t like the kolam they can always remove it. Why should they detain us?”

The protest comes even as agitations are taking place across the country against CAA and NRC. While some are taking out street marches, others are reading out from the Constitution of India, and yet others are organising cultural events including music performances. Last Sunday, a small group of protestors had gathered in the Besant Nagar area to peacefully protest against CAA and NRC. This protest also saw cultural events like music performances and parai being played. Tamil indie band The Casteless Collective also put up a small performance on the road and people from the crowd spoke up to express their dissent.