Hyderabad: Women activists vow Shaheenbagh-type stir

Hyderabad: Several women activists in the city continue to clamour for 'Shaheen Bagh' kind of protests in the city, despite police bid to thwart any attempts to the effect. They are puzzled why the state government is not allowing the protest even after Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao announced to pass a resolution in the Assembly, on the lines of other states opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The Republic Day celebrations witnessed women in large numbers attending with fervour in different parts of Old City for the first time. Police denied permission for the proposed 48-hours sit-in protest at Mir Alam Eidgah, near Zoo Park. TS & AP JAC against CAA- NRC-NPR convener Mohammed Mushtaq Malik had tried to get permission from the police. Earlier it was planned to be organised at Darulshifa on January 25 and 26. But following police officials' suggestion, the venue and dates were changed. But to their surprise, the permission was denied even for the new venue, where thousands of women were expected to attend the protests. On January 27, some of the women, including the most vocal activist and now critic of KCR, Nadia Khan, reached the venue and entered into heated arguments with the policemen.

On the same night, she along with some other activists tried to hold a flash protest at Mehdipatnam and they were allegedly injured in a scuffle as the police tried to disperse the group. "There was no woman constable present in the police force and they used force and lathis to disperse the protestors. When KCR has promised that he would come up with a resolution in Assembly, what is the reason that police is using force against the peaceful protestors? If he claims to be secular, he should grant permission to the protesting women. But we will not get deterred and shall continue to fight like Delhi women," she vowed.

Some other women activists were also booked for their attempts to start 'Shaheen Bagh' type protests in Tolichowki and other areas earlier this month. Some of them expressed their frustration at not being provided such chance to women in Hyderabad, while their counterparts across India were successful including in a State like UP where such camps in different cities surprised many. "We shall continue our struggle to get a proper site to come up with Hyderabad's Shaheen Bagh, where nothing but peaceful protests will be held" affirmed, another woman activist.

Question KCR why he is reluctant to allow stir; Police continue to thwart attempts

"If he (KCR) claims to be secular, he should grant permission to the protesting women. But we will not get deterred and shall continue to fight like Delhi women," thunders most vocal activist and now critic of KCR, Nadia Khan