Thousands form human chain to protest CAA, NRC

The protests were joined by various political leaders at different points along the 30-km long stretch on Anna Salai and GST Road. The agitators shouted slogans against the Central government for forcing CAA, NRC and NPR on the citizens and calling it discriminatory against one religion. 

The human chain protest was organised by Tamil Makkal Otrumai Media, a collective of ‘secular parties’ and organisations in the state. Tamil Nadu joined the nation-wide peaceful protests by organising a human chain protest on the Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary. 

“I was on my way to work and while crossing Teynampet signal, I suddenly noticed a human chain of anti-CAA, NRC protesters right up to Royapettah mosque. There have been multiple such stirs happening in others states like Kerala, Kolkata and I was pleasantly surprised and happy to see Chennai catching up,” said Aditi Banerji from Thoraipakkam.

Though the organisers had invited people to join the protests only around 4.30 pm, protesters could be seen on the streets at around 3 pm itself, carrying placards against CAA, NRC and NPR. It lasted till 4.30 pm, after which the protesters dispersed.

Police said that 3,300 people formed human chain from Periyar Statue to Gemini Flyover and 560 of them were women. Traffic was affected on the arterial Anna Salai as well as the GST road due to the human chain protest.