A doctor and her daughter were among the many at the rally in Esplanade on Thursday to protest “an unconstitutional and discriminating act”.

Nina Ghosh, 58, a paediatrician, adjusted her work schedule in the morning to accompany her daughter to the protest rally.

The two have shopped together, watched movies together, but never thought they would march on the city’s roads together to “protest an act that is unconstitutional and discriminating”.

Ghosh said the Citizenship (Amendment) Act had “challenged her beliefs and the basic idea of India” that she had grown up with. “When we were growing up, our parents, our education taught us to live peacefully with one another. But now (with CAA) I am unable to accept what is happening to our country. It is a shock to us.”

Ghosh, who came with daughter Ilina, 22, from Tollygunge, said what she found “more shocking” was how many people around her were “agreeing to something unconstitutional”.

“Many people who are educated or have received similar education like us are supporting the act. That is very shocking to me. No one can remain apolitical at this time,” the doctor who did not mind adjusting her appointments said.

Ilina, a graduate from Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore, said it was important to “come out and protest” because the act was “discriminating on the basis of religion”.

“How can you exclude people on the basis of religion? You cannot throw out people who have been living here for generations just because you (the government) want a Hindu state,” she said.

Sheikh Shahid, 26, a third-year student of Maulana Azad College, was waving an Indian flag tirelessly as a friend raised slogans and others sat in a circle around them. “We are all from the Park Street area. We are here to protest the Citizenship (Amendment) Act,” Shahid said. Picture by Gautam Bose

Sharanaya Bhattacharya, who is preparing for medical entrance test, came to the rally at Y-Channel with a poster that said: “Merry Crisis and Happy New Fear”. “What could be scarier? You are seeking to wipe out a community. This is not a Merry Christmas and it does not augur a Happy New Year at all,” she said. Picture by Subhankar Chowdhury

Pratima Majumder, an 82-year-old retired college teacher and a resident of Beadon Street, participated in chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s protest rallies on Wednesday and Thursday. “I am politically active and took part in the chief minister’s rally on Wednesday from Tea Board to the Dorina crossing. I managed to come to Esplanade today with my grandson and a student,” she said. Picture by Sandip Chaudhury