More than 1,000 people from different sections of the society took part in a “Samvidhan Bachao Desh Bachao” public meeting on Friday in Niche Kulhi locality of Jharia under the banner of Dalit Muslim Ekta Manch.

The two-and-a-half-hour meeting held from 3pm under the chairmanship of Prem Bachhan Das, president of Jharkhand Rickhshaw Mazdoor Sangh, began with a rendition of the national anthem followed by an oath where participants vowed not to fill up any form related the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR).

Former Nirsa MLA Arup Chatterjee and former councillor of Ward 35 Rustam Ansari were also present at the meeting.

“The RSS and the BJP are practising the politics of polarisation to remain in power. Core problems such as unemployment, price rise, industry closure and economic slowdown are not being discussed anywhere because the issues based on caste and religion are thrust upon the people,” Chatterjee said.

He said the people of India should be thankful to the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Aligarh Muslim University and St Stephen’s College who have raised their voices against the government policies despite barbaric attacks on them.