Women have changed the complexion of the country-wide protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens, said Aysha Renna N, who had shielded a friend from police assault at Jamia Millia Islamia a couple of weeks back.

Echoing Aysha, Jadavpur University’s Debsmita Chowdhury said the participation of women brought spontaneity to the protests.

Khadija Aslam of Jawaharlal Nehru University said the participation of homemakers in protests had provided an impetus to the fight against the “black acts”.

The three women were speaking at a rally against CAA and NRC, organised by J Umeed Foundation on Zakaria Street on Friday evening. A large number of women professionals attended the rally.

“I am impressed with this participation of women. Be it at Shaheen Bagh or in Park Circus, women are leading the protests. I went to Park Circus on Thursday night. I was overwhelmed. It has changed the complexion of the protest,” said Aysha.

The 22-year-old BA (Arabic) student at Jamia had raised her right index finger to warn a policeman not to hit a man crouching behind her during an alleged raid by Delhi police on the campus on December 16.

“I was impressed by the participation of women from across communities at a rally on Friday afternoon. The fact that three of us are on the stage... will only add more firepower to the movement,” said Aysha.

Debsmita, who tore up a copy of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill on the stage at the Jadavpur University convocation on December 24, said: “This movement has acquired a spontaneous flavour because of the large-scale participation of women. At Jamia and JNU, protests are being led by Aysha and Aishe....”

Khadija Aslam, a student of economics at JNU, said: “I can see that even in this meeting the women are in attendance in large numbers. This is something that could not be thought of earlier. The Modi government through its oppressive measures has turned the protest into a mass movement.”