Exemplifying their solidarity, over 300 Indian Americans in Chicago hold rally supporting CAA

New Delhi, January 7: Misinterpreting the Citizenship Amendment Act and creating unwarranted violence over the implementation, people across the country have shown their anger and disagreement by hitting streets. But there are many who have come out in open supporting the CAA giving citizenship to the religiously persecuted refugees. Exhibiting their support and solidarity, more than 300 Indian-Americans held a rally braving sub-zero temperature in downtown Chicago.

 

“The rally was attended by people from different walks of life and by all age groups. The rally was aimed to show support to the Act and also educate the people about the Act, counter misinformation and myths about the Act,” the organisers said. One of the organiser of the rally, an Indian American Dr Bharat Barai, said, “A freezing temp of -1C was not able to dampen the gathering of more than 300 Indian diaspora. They came with colourful and meaningful placards, slogans, banners and flags of USA and India. Their message was loud and clear.”

Displaying posters and banners reading "We support Citizenship Amendment Act", "Indian-Americans Support CAA" and "CAA provides citizenship to persecuted minorities", the participants thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Parliament for the enactment of the Act. The participants signed a memorandum supporting the CAA and thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government for the humanitarian help to religiously persecuted minorities in three neighbouring countries. The memorandum was forwarded to the Government of India through the Consul General of India in Chicago.

According to the CAA, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 following religious persecution there will get Indian citizenship. Several other community leaders also spoke on the occasion, including Amitabh Mittal, Nirav Patel, Hemant Patel, Amar Upadhyay, Rohit Joshi, Shailesh Rajput, Vandana Jhingan, Kalpesh Desai and Devesh Pandit.