In Depth: Who is Amulya Leona Noronha, And Why You Must Know Her

Amulya Leona Noronha is the girl arrested on sedition charges in Karnataka for saying Pakistan Zindabad slogans. At an event - part of the country wide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) - Amulya got on to a stage for a speech in the presence of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi and said Hindustan Zindabad... Pakistan Zindabad... But before she could complete her sentence her mic was taken away and she was arrested for 'sedition' charges. She was initially to be in custody for 14 days but has spent nearly four months locked up.

What Happened?

As reported by SheThePeople on 22nd Feb, she was trying to tell the audience that 'all nations are one in the end' but her microphone had been taken away and she couldn't finish her intended speech. Reports note that Owaisi and other people on stage panicked and tried to snatch her mic and as a result "her subsequent shout of ‘Hindustan Zindabad’ got suppressed in the chaos and her intentions regarding the raising of these slogans were misunderstood."

In The News

Because of her oratory skills she was often invited to speak at anti CAA protests which were widespread across India before coronavirus hit the country. Young, petite Amulya Leona Noronha spoke fearlessly at protest rallies. As an activist, she also used social media platforms to mobilise support for the anti-CAA protests in Karnataka.

"Known for her fiery speeches and ability to hold audiences in thrall, there appeared to be no end to the student of journalism’s meteoric rise in activist circle," noted Deccan Herald in a report. It further added, "By the end of January, she was nearly a household name among protesters and was known for unexpectedly showing up at various rally sites, where she was quickly handed the mic and allowed to speak."

In Jan 2020, Noronha sparked a controversy when she heckled Mahesh Vikram Hegde, the editor of Right-wing propaganda website Postcard News, at an airport asking him to sing Vande Mataram to prove his “Indian-ness”.

After the Freedom Park incident, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said Amulya had links with Naxalites. “Amulya’s links with Naxalites have been proved in an investigation. She must be punished and action will be taken against the organisations behind it.”

The Courts

The courts have repeatedly denied her bail. One court observed that if granted bail, Amulya Leona Noronha “may involve (herself) in similar offence which affects peace at large”.

On 12th June, a magistrate’s court granted the college student “default bail” saying the police had not submitted the chargesheet to the court within the stipulated 90 days. Police in Bengaluru were due to file a chargesheet on May 20, when the 90-day period since her arrest ended, but did so only on 3rd June.

What's Noronha's Side?

After her arrest, Noronha had issued statement clarifying her stance. “There have been instances where those opposing CAA are advised to migrate to Pakistan. People also raise ‘Hindustan Zindabad‘ slogans in speeches aimed at hitting back at the CAA detractors. The gathering hails India on such occasions. But when ‘Pakistan Zindabad‘ slogan is raised, the audience keeps quiet. When the gathering remains silent, it denotes their patriotism. None responded when I shouted ‘Pakistan Zindabad‘. I wanted to say next that all of us are Indians, and had planned to raise ‘Hindustan Zindabad‘ slogan thereafter. But once I hailed Pakistan, the microphone was snatched away. Even though I requested for an opportunity to complete my address, no one listened to my request,” she stated according to a report in Daiji World.

Noronha's Family

Her ">father is not on Amulya's side when it comes to views on CAA. However, in Feb their house was vandalised by a mob that insisted her father say 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai". He did add, what his daughter did 'was wrong.'

"What she said about Pakistan was wrong. I condemn such statements. Inspite of my objecting she got into the company of some in the muslim community. What she said on stage is unacceptable. We have not spoken in five days," he said in February.

Noronha's Early Years & College

Amulya was born in 2000 in Koppa, Karnataka. She attended St Joseph's school in Koppa itself, and then after class 4 she moved to Manipal where she studied in Christ School. She did her junior college from Sadvidya Comosite Preuniversity.

In 2018 she joined NMKRV college in Bangalore to pursue English and Journalism.

What was the actual speech?

Amulya wrote a Facebook post in Kannada on 16th February, which appears to be the actual speech she wanted to deliver, as reported by The Indian Express.

Hindustan Zindabad

Pakistan Zindabad

Bangladesh Zindabaad

Srilanka Zindabad

Nepal Zindabaad

Afghanistan Zindabad

China zindabad

Bhutan zindabad

Whichever country it is – zindabad to all countries.

You teach the children that nation is it’s soil. We children are telling you – nation means it is its people. All people should get their basic facilities. All of them should be able to avail their fundamental rights. Governments should take care of the people of these countries. Zindabad to everyone who serve the people.

I don’t become a part of a different nation just because I say zindabad to that nation. As per law, I am an Indian citizen. It is my duty to respect my nation and work for the people of the country. I will do that. Let us see what these RSS guys will do.

The Sanghis will get annoyed by this. Start your series of comments. What I have to say I will say.