MARGAO: Alleging that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is anti-constitutional and anti-secular, Council for Social Justice and Peace, National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation (NCHRO-Goa Unit) and Concerned Citizens of Goa have stated that they will continue their agitation till the CAA in cancelled, as the public meeting gathering organised by all these three organisations will be held on January 24 at 3.30 pm at Lohia Maidan, Margao. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, executive secretary of Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) Fr Savio Fernandes, along with working president of NCHRO Ranjan Solomon and president of Concerned Citizens of Goa Samir Shaikh said that Constitution is getting disturbed due to the CAA. "The government must listen to the voice of the people and withdraw the Act. It can then engage in wide consultation if it still wishes to proceed with any form of legislation regarding citizenship. If arrogates power to enforce the laws, it will face stubborn and unceasing resistance," said Fr Savio.
He further said that the government is resorting to the abuse of law and order mechanisms and intelligence agencies to suppress this popular people movement. "We have noticed how, in many parts of the country, the government has been high handed in undermining the protests. Here, in Goa, conceding to the threats by a fringe group, permission granted to citizens of Mapusa for a peaceful protest was revoked on flimsy grounds," he added. Fr Savio also said that as a people, in a democracy, have the right to resist any illegal form of legislation. "The government belongs to the people and it is for the people. The government cannot rule but the government is an administrator of the people. As responsible citizens who wish to see to a just and peaceful society functioning demand the most transparent and strict forms of democracy. We demand that we have access to a Sovereign Socialist Secular democratic republic which grants all its citizens justice, social, economic and political rights," said Ranjan Solomon. "The government should also take note of the fact that this is the first time since partition that people across the country have demonstrated an unyielding show of unity cutting across all religions and social formations to register their protests on the streets," stated Ranjan. When asked what will be the effect of CAA on Goa and Goans, Fr Savio said that all those issues will be addressed at the public meeting by experts.