Vineet, 43, works for a tech company in Haryana, and is associated with the MKSS. He travelled at his own expense to New Delhi to participate in the Trilokpuri public hearing. He also went to Mangolpuri, where he helped people fill out Form 6. After spending the entire day counselling residents and explaining next steps, he caught a bus back to Hisar.
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It is important to remember that citizensโ organisations had already been protesting well before 23 October, be it in Lucknow, Hyderabad or Mumbai. On 16 October, hundreds gathered in Connaught Place, New Delhi to take part in the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ (fly the tricolour) event.
Saroj, a Delhi resident who participated in the Tebhaga and Telangana movements, says, โI have never seen such an incompetent government. The people who gave us the slogan โbeti bachao, beti padhaoโ (to save your daughter, teach your daughter) organise tricolour marches to protect rapists while preventing the countryโs own citizens from unfurling the flag!โ
Virag, from Gujarat, was in Connaught Place that day. He and his associates had organised a public book event in Ahmedabad, where they were assaulted by members of the VHP and Bajrang Dal. โDictatorship prevails in this country,โ he says. โOne day, the dictator will quake, everyone will then be held accountable.โ
Journalist and content creator Meghnad, who has declared himself an independent politician, says the movement has become decentralised.
โWe received a call from Deoghar. They wanted to organise a protest with just four or five people and asked whether we could add it to the People Against SIR website and map. People are stepping up on their own. The size of the crowd doesnโt matter. This is about citizens. People Against SIR is becoming a platform through which they can connect. It wonโt be easy for the government to snuff us all out.”
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