Irom Chanu Sharmila joined the protest against CAA in Bengaluru

Cries of ‘Azadi’ echoed at Bengaluru’s Town Hall, as citizens protested against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Placards reading, ‘Know me by my clothes! Pehchaan Koun?’ were carried by protesters, wearing burqas and bindis, to show that their protests did not signify a fight between communities, but unity among them. The evening saw activists, including Irom Chanu Sharmila, known as the Iron Lady for her struggle against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Manipur, address the public. She spoke about how this Act would affect different sections of society. The protest also marked the birth anniversary of social reformer Savitribai Phule. There were rap, song and poetry performances, in line with the theme of the protest. The protest concluded with the National Anthem and people in attendance thanking police officials for allowing them to protest peacefully.