People of different faiths converged in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh area to hold a multifaith prayer ceremony to register their protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and a proposed pan-India National Register of Citizens (NRC) on Sunday.
All roads leading to the protest site were jam-packed as a massive crowd of protestors gathered to witness Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Muslims participating in a 'sarva dharma sambhava' (interfaith) prayer ceremony.
In a unique show of solidarity which went on for about two hours, Sikhs sang hymns from the Gurbani, while Christians and Muslims read out from their holy scriptures and Hindu priests performed a traditional hawan.
Kuldeep Singh, who attended the prayer meeting told SBS Punjabi that "It's high time we sent out a message to the government that it can no longer divide us in the name of religion."
"We are one and will continue to protest peacefully until the government revokes the Act that intends to divide India on the basis of religion. We need azadi (freedom) from communal hatred," said Mr Singh.
Hundreds of protesters also participated in a reading of the Preamble to the Indian Constitution, to reiterate its “socialist” and “secular” values.
Historic scenes were witnessed as protestors carried a 500-metre long national flag through the streets to mark the completion of 30 days of the anti-CAA campaign.
A tall replica of the India Gate carrying names of all those who have allegedly lost their lives during the ongoing protests also made an appearance at the protest venue.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also attended the protest, where he addressed the gathering, telling the women of Shaheen Bagh who have been camping in the area since December 15, that they are the pride of the nation.
Shaheen Bagh, a Muslim-dominated area in Delhi’s south has been witnessing protests, largely from the area’s women who have been braving one of the fiercest winters in the capital to lodge their protest against the controversial Act.
They want the Act, which offers amnesty to non-Muslim immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, repealed "at the earliest."
