Sydney protesters demanded abolition of Indian citizenship laws

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Sydney CBD to protest against Indian citizenship amendment (ICA) and National register of citizenship (NRC). Speakers denounced alleged brutality and use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators in India.

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Indian Citizenship Amendment Act paved the way to fast-track citizenship for non-Muslim immigrants from Muslim-majority countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. A large protest gathering was held in Sydney Martin place on Sunday 29th. December 2019 to denounce the latest citizenship laws approved by the Modi government. Speakers criticized the laws as discriminatory and demanded its immediate revocation.

Speakers of the protest rally held in Sydney CBD  

Jasbir Mustapha ,  Lee Rhiannon- ٖFormer Greens Senator, Niyaz Cannoth, Ali Khan, Hassan Qureshi, Mohd Moidin, Suresh Vallath, Nandita Suneja, Manoj Sheoran, Abbas Raza Alvi,  Ashwin Thomas, Anie Kandya

Kanan Gopinath from Karnataka joined the protest over the phone and shared his reasons for resigning from IAS post after the abrogation of Article 370. 

Saba Abdi and Ali khan were among the large crowd of protesters. They both labeled the current citizenship laws  "discriminatory and against the Indian constitution"

Recent citizenship laws are the continuation of Modi government's policies of discrimination on the basis of religion

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Sydney Protesters were upset over a new law that they claim will exclude only muslims from becoming citizens. They alleged that, when in effect, NRC combined with CAA will make majority of Muslims illegal and the largest minority be excluded from  becomIng Indian citizen.Muslims accused Modi government of discrimination as the law will make easier only for non-Muslim minorities to become Indian citizens. Violent clashes between police and protesters erupted in India as protesters call for the law to be revoked.

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Many Indians took social media to express their concerns on the recent citizenship amendment and use of excessive force by the police against peaceful students.

I’m deeply concerned about Indian Prime Minister Modi's Citizenship Amendment Act which discriminates against religious minorities. Indian Muslims are being targeted based on how they worship. I urge PM Modi to rescind this law immediately. https://t.co/o2UYbY87SY

— Rep. Deb Haaland (@RepDebHaaland)

December 27, 2019

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Indian Prime mister assured all Indians that recent citizenship act will not use to discriminate on the basis of religion or language