Congress airbrushes own Netas out of video hailing 'organic' Shaheen Bagh protest

Exuding ir support for women of Shaheen Bagh, Congress party in a video lauded protesters who have turned area into a site of resistance against government. In a tweet, grand old party lambasted those who tag women of Shaheen Bagh as 'anti-national' for protesting against contentious Citizenship Amended Act (CAA). Moreover, equated "peaceful" protest to a new kind of 'Satyagraha' that was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. 

Taking on BJP, Congress party said, "Those who call women of Shaheen Bagh “anti-national” have comprehension of what nationalism means. se women have peacefully and democratically voiced ir opposition, y have united India, inspired youth & reinvigorated teachings of Mahatma Gandhi." In an attempt to appropriate protests, senior Congress leaders --Salman Khurshid, Shashi Tharoor and Mani Shankar Aiyar visited protest site in last week, however, y were t included in video shared by Congress party. 

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With impending Delhi Assembly polls, st saw an evident hijack by political parties including--Congress, AAP, AIMIM and Left. Concerned over politicisation of Shaheen Bagh agitation, one of organisers and a student of JNU, Sharjeel Imam on January 2 anunced to withdraw movement on social media.

Shaheen Bagh protests 

One month on, women have been at forefront of sit-in protest, ever since mid-December, at Shaheen Bagh area to oppose CAA and proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). Occupying stretch of Delhi's Shaheen Bagh area, people have been protesting, undeterred by cold winters of national capital. However, w frequented by politicians across party lines, protest site at Shaheen Bagh is feared to have been converted into a political hub for leaders to propel ir party's ndas. 

Apart from political issues, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) wrote to District Magistrate of South East Delhi that children at protest site "may suffer from mental trauma" as a result of "rumours and miscommunication". In this regard, apex child rights body has asked authorities to identify and arrange to counsel for children seen at protests. 

"We received a complaint that children are traumatised that y will t be able to show ir documents, and acting on it NCPCR wrote to District Magistrate and asked ( official) to identify and arrange to counsel for children, seen at protests against Citizenship Amendment Act at Shaheen Bagh, and ir parents," NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kaongo told PTI on Tuesday.

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Delhi Police in repeated appeal has asked agitators of Shaheen Bagh to clear road 13A citing various complaints regarding road blockade. In a tweet, Delhi Police said, "ir (Students') parents have expressed deep anxiety in view of forthcoming Board examinations. Daily commuters, local residents and businesspersons are also facing acute harassment. We once again appeal to protesters at Shaheen Bagh to clear road and restore rmal traffic.

Apart from involvement of children and issues of road blockade, BJP's Amit Malviya stirred a controversy by claiming that protesters at Shaheen Bagh were paid Rs. 500 per day. In retaliation to allegation, two women Nafisa Ba and Shahzad Fatma sent a defamation tice to BJP's IT Cell head. In legal tice, Rs.1 crore in dams and an apology have been sought as it has been alleged that Malviya’s actions constitute an offence of defamation.