Hyderabad: 15-min blackout against CAA by businessmen in Charminar

• This 'blackout' protest from 7.15 pm to 7.30 pm which started at Chatta Bazar is now officially being adopted by JAC

• The core committee appealed to people to adopt new strategies to emphasise their demand to repeal CAA

• Apart from Chatta Bazar, the people are organising flash protests in other areas like Charminar, Kalapathar, Panjeshah, Bogulkunta, Nampally etc

Charminar: Following the success of 15-minutes 'blackout' protest at Chapta Bazar market, this trend is now slowly spreading to other market places and even institutions. The JAC against CAA-NPR-NCR has now decided to back this novel form of protest and began encouraging public to make this a new phenomenon in different parts of City, with a slogan 'Black law ke Khilaf Blackout protest'.

Holding candles, the students of Government Nizamia Tibbi College (GNTC), who have been protesting during daytime for over 5-weeks, were seen taking part in the novel protest and singing nationalist songs in Urdu on Wednesday. While the market places at Mallepally, which were recently witnessed flash-protest following denial of permission for women's dharna at Indira park, also witnessed 'black-out' protest where traders seen switching-off their lights. They held candles, along with placards reading 'Hum Desh Bachaney Nikley hai aao humarey saath chalo', 'We need equality', besides slogans like 'No – CAA, NRC & NPR'. Earlier on Tuesday while announcing their solidarity with Delhi's Jamia students who allegedly faced lathi charge from police, the activists, Sara Mathew, Fatima and Khalida Parveen held candle light flash protest at Ambedkar Statue, near Tank Bund at around 7 pm.

This 'blackout' protest between 7.15 to 7.30 pm which started at Chatta Bazar, is now officially being adopted by JAC. The Core Committee has appealed people to adopt new strategies to emphasise their demand to repeal CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) and run this form of campaign till February 20. "Please switch-off the lights of your house and shop, as there are attempts being made to snatch-away your citizenship. For the sake of protecting our constitution and for the future of your children, everyone should adopt this," reads the latest message from the JAC.

From the beginning of February, with the active cooperation of the traders particularly those who are involved in printing business, each day after dusk, a long human-chain is being formed starting from Nayapul to City Civil Court in Purani Haveli, holding placards in the peaceful protest.

The protestors stand in dark by switching off the lights in the bustling market place close to Charminar, each day for 15-minutes, starting from 7.15 pm to 7.30 pm. Apart from Chatta Bazar, the people are organising flash protests in other areas like Charminar, Kalapathar, Panjeshah, Bogulkunta, Nampally etc. In these areas, a group of 25-30 youngsters are standing silently with holding placards on roads.