GUWAHATI, Dec 21 - Dressed in black outfits as a mark of protest, a number of female writers, social activists, academicians and students today took to the streets of Guwahati today to raise their voice against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) under the �Women resist in black� initiative.
Asserting that the role of women in protest movements is not just to add to the number of the crowd, today�s protesters stated that the interest of women should also reflect in the policy level and decision-making process.
Distinguished writer Nirupama Borgohain while addressing the gathering, said the CAA is a controversial black legislation because it discriminates on the basis of religion. �Let us all stand united against the Act that has been imposed on us by the Union government,� she mentioned.
A number of leaders, journalists, writers and academicians including Dr Rani Gohain, Asomi Gogoi, Sabita Lahkar, Ratna Bharali Talukdar, Puja Nirala, Karishma Hazarika, Rashmirekha Bora, Anupama Basumatary, Anurita Pathak Hazarika, among others, addressed the gathering and protested against the CAA.
Apart from asking the Union government to scrap CAA, the protesters also asked the government to stop all forms of atrocities on the anti-CAA protesters, release of KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi unconditionally, announce compensation of Rs 20 lakh each to families of those martyred in the anti-CAA movement and stop divisive politics that spreads communal hatred among the people.
The protesters also raised objection to the fact that at some places, effigies of State government leaders were being dressed in mekhela chador to condemn their weak stand on the issue of CAB and later CAA.
�Thousands of women are coming out of their homes to give more strength to the anti-CAA movement. Women signify strength and resilience and dressing up the effigies of political leaders in bangles, lipstick or mekhela chador is an insult to the formidable power of women. It also depicts the deep-rooted patriarchal mindset to objectify women and demean their position in society,� social activist Anurita Pathak Hazarika said.
�Even within the anti-CAA movement, there are patriarchal elements that think women�s role in a movement is limited to adding to the crowd and that their opinion on such matters does not count. Through this gathering, we are fighting a dual battle against the Act and also against such mindset that don�t want to allow women to speak their minds,� said Rashmirekha Bora.
The protesters also demanded greater participation of women in the process of decision making. After the meeting, a procession was taken out against CAA in the city.
