No light at end of Shaheen Bagh tunnel?

| | NEW DELHI
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No light at end of Shaheen Bagh tunnel?

Friday, 21 February 2020 | Staff Reporter | NEW DELHI

No light at end of Shaheen Bagh tunnel?

As protesters dig in heels, mediators say resolution needed otherwise SC will act

The mediation attempt by Supreme Court-appointed interlocutors — advocates Sanjay Hedge and Sadhana Ramachandran — to persuade the Shaheen Bagh protesters to lift blockade of the Delhi-Noida main road remained futile for the second day on Thursday. The protesters patiently expressed their anguish but refused to budge from their day 1 demand that they would end protest only after the CAA is repealed and proposed NRC is shelved.

After holding talks with the protesters, Hegde and Ramachandran left for the day. It is understood they are likely to visit the protest site again on Friday to find an amicable solution to end the impasse. The road blockade has been going on since December 15. 

Like Wednesday, Hedge and Ramachandran expressed their unwillingness to talk with protesters in the presence of the media. As Ramachandran started addressing the protesters reporters surrounding the dais tried to suggest her on how to hold talks. It angered her, and she asked the mediapersons to leave the tent where the talks were to be resumed.

Ramachandran began addressing the protesters saying, “Aapne bulaya, hum chale aaye (You called us and we are here)”. Hegde said the SC has recognised their right to protest, but added “the rights of others have to be respected”.

“When Shaheen Bagh has become an example of protests in India, let us set an example of a protest that does not disturb anybody. You all must be rest assured that we are here to fight for you. Don’t think if you change your spot, your fight will die down,” Hegde said.

“We have seen many PMs come and go. Whoever comes in power and runs the country, sometimes some could be right and some could be wrong. Whatever you are saying the whole country and the PM are listening,” he added.

Ramchandran said she is waiting for that day when the country’s atmosphere will change. Then an elderly man expressed his fear, “I am very scared... I am very scared for my children. Madam save me,” he said. When Ramchandran asked him more about his fear, the man replied, “I am a single father. I will die but my children should get to live here fearlessly. My girls go to school where they are being told that you will go out of the country.”

Another man, while talking to the interlocutors, said, “I have a national flag on my bicycle. We love this country and stop calling us traitors.”

On Monday, the Supreme Court observed that the blockade of the road at Shaheen Bagh was “troubling” and suggested the protesters go to another site where no public place would be blocked. It, however, upheld their right to protest.

The apex court also asked Hegde to “play a constructive role as an interlocutor” to persuade the protesters to move to an alternative site. It said the interlocutors could seek former bureaucrat Wajahat Habibullah’s assistance.

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