Various organisations in Kerala have called for a hartal in the state on December 17 against ‘anti-Muslim and unconstitutional’ Citizenship (Amendment) Act and The National Register of Citizens (NRC).
The hartal has been called by Welfare Party of India (WPI), Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Dalit Human Rights Movement (DHRM), Kerala Muslim Yuvajana Federation (KMYF), Solidarity Youth movement, Kerala Dalit Panthers (KDP), Jamaath Council, Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO), Fraternity Movement, Minority Rights Watch and Porattam, among others.
In a statement, the organisations have said that both the Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens are anti-Muslim, divisive and are against the fundamental right of equality granted by the Constitution.
Dubbing the recent Act the ‘death of Constitution’ they said there is a need for strong protest against the move to make a section of people stateless.
The Act proposes to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslims who came to India from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan before 2015.
