“They said, if I don’t sign, they would destroy my life.” This 20-year-old Delhiite went to an Amit Shah rally and shouted slogans against CAA and NRC. Harjit Singh tells Brut India what happened after he was locked up by the police.
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00:00Namaste Pradhan Mantri Ji, my name is Harjeet Singh, I am doing Political Science Honours from 1st year SOL DU.
00:06That day I was in Amit Shah's rally, I put up a slogan for CAA to return to NRC.
00:11So I reached there, there was a protest in Seelampur.
00:15My friend told me to reach there, so I reached there.
00:19When I came out of the metro, I saw there is security, so I asked an officer what is happening here.
00:24The officer told me that Amit Shah is coming here.
00:27I thought it will take time, so I went to find my location.
00:30I couldn't find my location, then my friend called me and told me that location is opposite side.
00:34When I was going back, Amit Shah took me to LCD screen.
00:38Then I got an idea that Amit Shah is talking about freedom of speech and debate.
00:42He told me that I don't have to be afraid.
00:44So I entered the rally.
00:46When I was 70-80 meters away, I put up a slogan for CAA to return to NRC.
00:52People caught me in NRC.
00:54They started beating me, they hit me 8 times on my head.
00:57Security was there for a minute, but they didn't do anything.
01:00Police came and took me in a jeep.
01:04They put me in jail for 20 hours.
01:08When my parents came at night, they told me that your son is a homosexual.
01:12Make him understand.
01:15I was told that you will be charged with terrorism.
01:19I asked how was it, they couldn't say anything.
01:21When SHO called me, they started talking about freedom of speech.
01:24They said that CAA has taken me from NRC to illegal migrants.
01:28I picked up the keys.
01:30This is hypocrisy.
01:32You can't do this.
01:34The next day, they took me to the hospital at 11.30 am.
01:37For formality, they gave me an injection.
01:39Because I had a cut from the test field.
01:41After the hospital, they took me to the new welcome police station.
01:46They made me sit there for 2 more hours.
01:48They made me write a letter.
01:50It said that my mental health is bad.
01:52I don't know why I am doing this.
01:54They told me that if I didn't sign, they would put me in jail for life.
01:59I thought they were threatening me.
02:01I didn't sign because I couldn't make my voice heard.
02:06That was one reason.
02:07When I came out of there, SHO was threatening me.
02:12They were taking me wherever they saw me.
02:14They were threatening me.
02:18To understand this, you have to understand why I am protesting.
02:22There are two main reasons behind this.
02:24Why I am protesting and why I am doing it.
02:26The first reason is because of the constitution.
02:28Article 14 explains that everyone has to be treated equally.
02:33The word people is not mentioned in the constitution.
02:36Article 25 says that the government can't sign on the basis of religion
02:41until the public harmony is achieved.
02:45The second reason is that we don't have our own food.
02:50We are not able to think of our own country.
02:52We are trying to save our own country.
02:56We don't care about Bangladesh.
02:58We don't care about our own country.
03:01These two points are very important.
03:04People have to understand that 55,000 crore NRC is my standard estimate.
03:08If I take a loan from Assam, it will cost me 55,000 crore.
03:11I can't get free healthcare.
03:12I can't get free education.
03:14I can't get free healthcare.
03:16I can't get free education.
03:18I can't get free education.
03:19The supporters have to understand that money is your life.