‘Will Fight Covid-19 With Govt’: Mumbai Bagh Protest Paused

The organisers said they will continue the Mumbai Bagh protest symbolically by taking it online.

Mumbai Bagh protesters sat with spaced-out seating arrangements.

(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)

Following seven deaths and over 300 confirmed cases of coronavirus in India, Shaheen Bagh-inspired sit-in protest led by women in Mumbai has been temporarily paused till the fear of the pandemic subsides.

Rubaid Ali Bhojani, one of the organisers of the protest, said, “All the protestes at Mumbai Bagh are withdrawing due to coronavirus epidemic and Section 144 in Maharashtra state.”

“We may have a difference with the government on CAA-NRC-NPR but we are with the government to fight against COVID-19.”

Rubaid Ali Bhojani, Organiser, Mumbai Bagh

Ali added, “The Mumbai Bagh protest will be continued in a symbolic way by posting online.”

Earlier, the protest was scaled down and was being carried on with precautions like distributing masks, hand sanitizers and spacing out the seating arrangements for the protesters.

Mumbai Bagh protesters continued sit-in with fewer women for a few days, amid coronavirus scare.

Protesters wear mask to Mumbai Bagh sit-in, and were provided with hand sanitizers at entry points.

Over 70 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Maharashtra and CM Uddhav Thackeray announced an extension of the Janata Curfew while many other states headed for a complete shutdown.

(Catch all the live updates on coronavirus here).

Meanwhile, at other protest sites near Mumbai in Kalyan, Bhiwandi and Mumbra, the sit-in is continuing with only five people till 31 March.

Empty protest site in Kalyan near Mumbai.

Samvidhan Bachao Sangharsh Sameti released a statement saying, “Request to all mothers and sisters to support us and government in the current situation to prevent spread of corona disease to keep nation healthy (sic).”