Like across different parts of the country, in Uttar Pradesh too political parties and civic organisations protested against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on December 19, 2019. At least 23 people died in clashes between police and protesters during the demonstration against CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC). Public and private property was damaged too.
As violent protests erupted in different parts of the state, chief minister Yogi Adityanath said the government will take revenge from those people who damaged public properties. Soon after his statement, raids took place, and more than 1,100 protesters got arrested, and 5,500 more got detained.
A month later, women started protesting against the CAA in Ghanta Ghar (Hussainabad), Lucknow, and many more cities of the state, against which police lodged cases as well. These demonstrations ended during the coronavirus-induced lockdown.
Police have now converted Ghanta Ghar into a cantonment. The entry of the ordinary citizen has also been restricted. The Wire spoke to some of the demonstrators about these protests.