Protesters at the Malvani ground raised slogans against CAA and NRC and also against the Modi government.

MUMBAI: Over 25,000 people turned up at a ground in Malvani , Malad (W) on Thursday evening to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NCR). The protestors walked along the road leading to the ground, resulting in traffic movement in the area getting slowed down. The protest, which went off peacefully, was organized by NGOs and citizen groups. Another march led by Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi’s (VBA) Prakash Ambedkar was held at Dadar TT circle in the afternoon and converted into a rally at which Ambedkar criticized the government over the new Act.

During the Malvani march, participants carried placards against CAA and NRC and raised slogans of “Modi go back — Hamein chahiye azaadi from fascism, fear and an oppressive regime.” Police estimated over 25,000 people had turned up.

The protestors reached the ground by 3pm, and the protest lasted till 6.30pm. “The march was organised by people from all communities residing in Malad, Madh Island , Orlem and other parts of Malvani-Malad. It started well and ended peacefully,” a participant said.

Malad MLA Aslam Shaikh, who spoke during the protest, said police permission had been obtained for the agitation 2-3 days ago. “There was no untoward incident. I raised the question of why the government was not trying to solve issues like farm crisis and unemployment. We have opposed the government’s decision to divide people in the name of the CAA and NRC,” he told TOI.

One protestors, who identified herself as Ayesha, told TOI: “This is the beginning. We will raise our voices against this government’s act of implementing NRC and CAA. The government’s actions go against those residing in the country for decades.”

Mumbai police spokesperson, DCP Pranay Ashok, said one side of the road had been blocked, while traffic had been routed from another lane so that there were no blocks. “The local police and traffic police from Malad managed the crowd and traffic movement properly,” he said.

In Dadar, Prakash Ambedkar, addressing VBA followers, alleged the previous BJP-led Maharashtra government had set up two detention camps on Mumbai’s outskirts. “People should strongly oppose the CAA and NRC and work to defeat the BJP, else they should be ready to be stationed at the detention camps in Kharghar and Nerul,” he said. Ambedkar said people from many deprived communities did not have records to prove nationality. He also criticized Congress and NCP for allegedly misleading people by saying that only the Muslim community would be affected.

