Protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the National Register of Citizens and the National Population Register have been cropping up in Karnataka, even outside the state capital of Bengaluru. Since mid December 2019, there have been protests in the central and northern parts of the state, in areas such as Hubli, Shivamogga, Sagar, Bagalkot and Bhatkal.
Kalaburagi, known as Gulbarga until 2014, in northern Karnataka has seen several protests too—women’s protests, large rallies backed by political parties, human chains and also smaller gatherings on college campuses. Last month, when section 144 was imposed in the city, people descended upon on the streets in defiance. A resident of the city told me, “It feels like there hasn’t been a day without a hunger strike, satyagraha or people’s protest happening.”
On 19 January 2020, the United Brotherhood—an umbrella of student organisations in Kalaburagi—organised a student convention against the CAA, the NRC and the NPR. The protest was held in the grounds outside the National Girls College. A large tent covered the area in front of the stage, with one section to a side walled off for women.
COMMENT