'Every home opposing the CAA, fly the National flag' : Asaduddin Owaisi

Hyderabad: Facing a sea of supporters at the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) headquarters at Darussalam, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, on Saturday, urged every citizen who registered a protest against the Citizens Amendment Act 2019, to fly the National Flag on their roof-top as a mark of protest.

'The tricolor will send a message to the Modi led BJP government on the number of Indians who stand for a secular country and oppose the Citizens Amendment Act 2019' said the AIMIM supremo who urged protesters to keep alive the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr B. R Ambedkar.

Darussalam in Hyderabad witnessed an unprecedented crowd of over 40,000 protesters on December 21st evening. The area came to life after parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi called for a public meeting to protest against the CAA and NRC.

Posters of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr B R Ambedkar and copies of the Preamble of the Contitution of India amidst a call against the CAA and NRC

Addressing those who questioned his nationality the barrister said, "'I am born an Indian by birth and by choice' my ancestors choosed to stay back in India because of the country's secularism, we rejected Jinna's invitation. Even few who left to Pakistan regret of leaving India. This is the same place (referring to Darussalam) where Jinna addressed the gathering 70 years ago. Now with the NRC the BJP government wants it's citizens to submit documents to prove their nationality. If every one is questioned for papers, then whom does this country belong?".

Criticizing the present government for the manner in which the protests are being a tackled, the Parliamentarian said, "Have you ever heard of police barging into a university library? Do you know Uttar Pradesh is burning, the BJP government has clampdown the voice of its people. Same is the case in Assam, Delhi. The Modi government is hell-bent on dividing the country on the basis of religion. They will first target the Muslims and then go after the rest, and they want to see the minorities stateless".

He added, "I appeal to every citizen who is against the CAA not to resort to violence; because this is where our enemy wants to fix us. Every citizen must keep alive the values of Mahatma Gandhi and architect of Indian Constitution Dr. B. R Ambedkar."

As the hours passed the crowd swelled leading to lock-jam. Several Muslims community leaders and a hand full of concerned citizens; Captain Pandu Ranga Reddy took to the stage to voice out against the CAA and the NRC

Towards the end of the massive gathering AIMIM chief read out the Preamble of Constitution of India in Urdu and English. Core repeated after him holding high copies of the preamble and the national flag. With their raised hands the crowd in one voice read "

We, the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic and to secure to all its citizens

JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation." Later the Parliamentarian thanked Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao for not supporting the bill in the Parliament and urged AP CM Jagan Mohan Reddy to withdraw his support.