'Protest Pattern Will Change Due To Covid': Student Activist Asif Iqbal Tanha On CAA, NRC & NPR

“If the government decides to implement NPR immediately, then we will have to find an immediate way to oppose it. We will also have legal discussions to ensure that the way forward for the movement is not against the Constitution of India. But as long as the threat of the pandemic remains, it will not be right to gather in large crowds in protest,” he told The Hindu in an exclusive conversation.

File Photo: PTI

New Delhi: Student activist Asif Iqbal Tanha, who was recently released on bail after being arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for his alleged role in the Delhi riots, has vowed to “find an immediate way to oppose” the National Population Register (NPR) if the Centre decides to implement it immediately.

Tanha, however, added it will not be right to gather in large crowds in protest as long as the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic remains.

“If the government decides to implement NPR immediately, then we will have to find an immediate way to oppose it. We will also have legal discussions to ensure that the way forward for the movement is not against the Constitution of India. But as long as the threat of the pandemic remains, it will not be right to gather in large crowds in protest,” he told The Hindu in an exclusive conversation.

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Responding to a poser on how will the movement against CAA/NRC/NPR continue, especially during the pandemic, Tanha said the “CAA/NRC movement had a pattern across the country whether it was the Shaheen Bagh protest or the Jamia protest which used crowds to protest”.

“Now, due to COVID, people cannot gather to protest and need to ensure their safety first before coming out on the streets to protest,” he added.

The student activist further said the “pattern of the protest will have to change” with the “threat of a possible third wave of Covid”.

Stating “social media will be used more”, Tanha said there will be more debate and discussion on the media to make people aware so that we can all sit down together and find a solution.

“These discussions will throw up ideas on how to take the movement forward,” he added.

Tanha and two other Delhi riots accused Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita were released from Delhi’s Tihar Jail last week after the Delhi High Court granted them bail.

They were arrested in May last year under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for their alleged role in the Delhi riots last year.