Goli Nahin, Phool Barsao Saaron Par: Shaheen Bagh on Sunday, 50th day of the protest

Contrary to widespread apprehension of violence on Sunday, the 50th day of the protest by women at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi, it turned out to be another peaceful day. This is despite a few odd men gathering near Sarita Vihar and shouting, “Desh Ke Gaddaron Ko, Goli Maro Saalon Ko’ ( shoot the traitors).

The men had collected near the police barricades at Sarita Vihar, which is at least 4.5 km away from Shaheen Bagh and were compelled by the police to leave the site.

Several women responded by holding placards calling for a shower of flowers on everyone : “Desh Ke Pyaron Par, Phool Barsao Saaron Par” (Shower flowers on all those lovely people).

“We have been here for 50 days now. Yesterday a man came here brandishing a gun and there were two bullets found on the ground. We will face all of them. This fight is for my home, my country. We have our homes to lose, so we will face it,” explained 85-year-old Maimoona. She has been at the protest site since the beginning except when she went for a couple of days to get a cataract surgery.

Speaking ta the protest was also Harjeet Singh, who had raised slogans against CAA at Amit Shah’s rally at Babarpur a few days ago. “I went to protest there because I was reminded of the many mothers sitting ta Shaheen Bagh. This government only wants to demonise the Muslims. They are looking for reasons to ensure Muslims don’t have statehood. Muslims in this country rejected Mohd. Ali Jinnah’s two nation theory. Now, we Hindus must step up. Both Muslim league and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh wanted to divide the country. How can they preach nationalism,” questioned Harjeet Singh.

“RSS has brainwashed people. In the minds of RSS there is only fear and they survive on that fear. There is no brotherhood in them otherwise how can they support CAA and NRC. We need to plan and change people with love. RSS has been propagating hatred, we should do just the opposite,” highlighted Singh.

The sit-in site was filled with people from all over. It was not just Muslims, but young women from all across Delhi-NCR. “I have been coming here whenever I can after classes. I live near Faridabad, but if I don’t come here to support them, then who else will? The women here have stood their ground against the fascists in power. We must do all that we can to support them. The Citizenship Amendment Act, National Register of Citizens and the National Population Register will render many people stateless, especially the Muslims, Dalits, OBCs, tribals and the women. We must protest,”underscored Himali, who is pursuing her post graduate degree at Delhi University.

Tension has been mounting at the site with a man brandishing a pistol first on Tuesday last week. The bout of slogan shouting at a BJP rally led by MOS ( Finance) Anurag Thakur, who encouraged party faithful to chant the offensive slogan that incited people to shoot undesignated ‘traitors’ was followed by the Hindu Sena putting out a statement on January 29, calling its followers to clear Shaheen Bagh by February 2.

This was followed by an alleged minor travelling 80 kilometres from jewar to the protest site and dramatically brandishing and then firing a bullet that hit a Jamia student on his wrist on January 30, the day the country was observing the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The so-called juvenile shouted slogans at protestors and shouted, ‘Yeh Lo Azadi” ( Here, take your freedom) before firing.

On the Budget day on Saturday, yet another young man identified as Kapil Gurjar, arrived at the spot and opened fire. While he was whisked off by the police in a private car, he shouted, “Yahan bus Hinduon ki chalegi”( Here in this country only Hindus will count).

However, Delhi Police have still not clarified from where these men got hold of illegal arms or who gave them the arms.

The women had issued a statement on Saturday, saying “We are increasingly fearful of the consequences of the politicisation of these peaceful protests and maintain that we are a non-partisan gathering.”

People continued to visit the site and most of them appeared to be overwhelmed.

The following images and videos, however, show Shaheen Bagh on Sunday: