New Delhi:
Several protests - some peaceful, some violent - erupted across India on Monday against the police crackdown in Jamia Millia Islamia and the controversial citizenship law as students and political leaders took to the streets, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi called these protests “deeply distressing” and appealed for peace. Amid protests, an all-party delegation will meet President Ram Nath Kovind today. According to the sources, the meet will take place at 4.30 pm at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Opposition politicians and activists say the Citizenship Amendment Act, which was passed last week by Parliament, is an attempt to divide the country along religious lines as it grants citizenship to Hindu minorities from the three neighbouring countries. They say such a preference is unconstitutional.
Here are all the updates:
Delhi Police: Former Congress MLA Asif Khan has been named as an accused in the FIR, for involvement in Jamia Millia Islamia incident that took place on 15 December.
West Bengal: The restriction on internet service has been extended for next 48 hours across the North Dinajpur district.
Delhi: Students of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University hold protest over #CitizenshipAmendmentAct. pic.twitter.com/4o63YTsapi
— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2019
Delhi: Indian Youth Congress carries out a torch rally, in protest against the incidents at Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University. Congress leader Harish Rawat is also participating in the protest march. #CitizenshipAmendmentAct pic.twitter.com/LIjjr7loya
— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2019
Welcome, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar metro stations that were closed in view of Seelampur violence reopened.
Several people gathered for a peaceful anti-CAA protest at Jama Masjid in Delhi. Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari addressed protestors. "Protest is our constitution right, no one can stop us but we shouldn't be violent, damage public properties, confront the police".
Earlier, Delhi Police carried out patrolling in Daryaganj area of the city.
Delhi: Police party carries out patrolling in Daryaganj area of the city. pic.twitter.com/5SnZwXoMLh
— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2019
Leaders of 12 opposition parties led by Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday met President Ram Nath Kovind over the police action in Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi. The Opposition has demanded a judicial probe into Sunday's police action against Jamia students.
Delhi Police PRO, MS Randhawa: Situation is under control in Seelampur. We are monitoring the situation. We are taking CCTV footage from areas where any incident is taking place. Video recording is also being done. None of the people, involved in such incidents, will be spared.
Delhi Police PRO, MS Randhawa: Situation is under control in Seelampur. We are monitoring the situation. We are taking CCTV footage from areas where any incident is taking place. Video recording is also being done. None of the people, involved in such incidents, will be spared. pic.twitter.com/jGAxGaDkRi
— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2019
6 accused, arrested in connection with Jamia Millia Islamia incident, sent to 14-day judicial custody by Delhi's Saket Court.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal appeals for peace, asks protesters to convey their demands 'peacefully'.
मेरी सà¤à¥€ दिलà¥à¤²à¥€à¤µà¤¾à¤¸à¤¿à¤¯à¥‹ से अपील है कि शांति बनाठरखें। à¤à¤• सà¤à¥à¤¯ समाज में किसी à¤à¥€ तरह की हिंसा बरà¥à¤¦à¤¾à¤¶à¥à¤¤ नहीं की जा सकती। हिंसा से कà¥à¤› हासिल नहीं होगा। अपनी बात शांति से कहनी है।
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 17, 2019
All entry and exit gates of Seelampur are open now: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
Oppose CAA politically as much as you can, but we will ensure that refugees get Indian citizenship, says Union Home Minister Amit Shah
Delhi: Police use a drone to monitor the situation in Jafrabad area where a clash broke out between police and protesters, during protest against Citizenship Amendment Act today.
Delhi: Police take away protesters from the spot in Jafrabad area where a clash broke out between police and protesters, during protest against #CitizenshipAmendmentAct today. Police has also used tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. pic.twitter.com/GU5mzV0dKm
— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2019
DCP, South-East Delhi, Chinmoy Biswal on Jamia Millia Islamia incident that took place on December 15: Total 10 people have been arrested till now, three of them have criminal background. No student has been arrested by Delhi Police.
Students take out rally in Pune college against CAA, NRC
Students of the Fergusson College in Maharashtra's Pune city took out a rally on the campus on Tuesday and held a signature campaign against the Citizenship
Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). They had earlier sought permission from Pune police to stage a protest and conduct a signature campaign at the main gate of the college, but it was denied, Santosh Rasve, a student from the college, said.
Supreme Court Latest
Indira Jaising appearing for students says "It's established law that universities are not a place where police can enter without permission of VC. 1 person lost eyesight. Legs of some students were broken. Solicitor General, T Mehta replies, "not a single student lost eyesight".
Latest from Supreme Court
Supreme Court during Jamia Millia Islamia/Aligarh Muslim University incidents case hearing: We do not have to intervene. It is a law and order problem, how did the buses burn? Why don’t you approach jurisdictional High Court?
Citizenship Amendment Act
Kamal Haasan on being asked about police action at Jamia Millia Islamia and AMU: The young will have to be politically aware. They must ask questions. If their questions are stifled, then democracy is in danger. I am a student (in my field) I will continue to voice for them.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) files petition in Supreme Court against Citizenship Amendment Act.
Citizenship Act Protests
Pune: Police has issued notice under section 149 of CRPC to 2 students of Fergusson College. The have been advised to not hold signature campaign or any protest against Citizenship Amendment Act and NCR. They were scheduled to hold signature campaign today morning in protest.
Supreme Court
We are not a trial court. We cannot assume jurisdiction for whatever (violence) happening all over the country. The situations may be different, facts may be different: CJI
Latest from Supreme Court
CJI says that the Court is not going to extend its jurisdiction for all incidents (protests against CAA) throughout the country.SC refuses urgent hearing of Advocate Ashwini Upadhyaya's plea relating to violence in Murshidabad, West Bengal.
Peaceful protest outside Jamia varsity against Citizenship Amendment Act
Protesters, including students and local residents, converged outside Jamia Millia Islamia University here with tricolour and placards on Tuesday to continue their demonstration against the Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens.
Braving freezing cold, they took out small marches outside the varsity, shouting slogans against the government.
They, however, made sure the movement of traffic was not affected.
A few students said though many of their classmates have gone back home, they have decided to stay put and fight till the amendments in the Citizenship Act are withdrawn.
Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena on opposition parties delegation to meet the President over Citizenship Amendment Act: I do not know about it. Shiv Sena is not part of this delegation.
Curfew relaxed in Shillong from 6 am to 7 pm
Curfew was relaxed for 13 hours in Shillong on Tuesday even as the ban on mobile internet services will remain in force, officials said.
The curfew was relaxed from 6 am from areas under Lumdiengjri police station and Sadar police station limits, a statement from the East Khasi Hills district administration
said.
Citizenship Act Protests
The curfew imposed in Guwahati on December 11 in the wake of protests against the citizenship law was lifted on Tuesday, officials said.
Shops and business establishments were open in the city, and buses, cars and two-wheelers were plying. The decision to lift the curfew in Guwahati was taken at a law and order review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday.
The curfew imposed in Dibrugarh district in the wake of major protests across the state over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, was on Tuesday relaxed from 6 am to 8 pm by the district administration.
Meerut District Magistrate, Anil Dhingra: Internet services to remain suspended till 5 pm today.
US On Citizenship Act Protests
We are closely following developments regarding the Citizenship Amendment Act. We urge authorities to protect and respect the right of peaceful assembly. We also urge protestors to refrain from violence. Respect for religious freedom and equal treatment under the law are fundamental principles of our two democracies. United States urges India to protect rights of its religious minorities in keeping with India’s Constitution and democratic values.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu On Citizenship Act Protests
There shouldn't be any obstruction or destruction, everybody should focus on construction. And our attitudes must change after all we are in free India, our own India. If you are destroying, means you are destroying the nation's wealth. The other day some public transport has been destroyed. Who are the losers? It's the people, the country. So, while agitating for our cause. One must be systematic. It shouldn't become destructive. Violence is no solution.
Citizenship Act Protests
West Bengal: Internet services in Howrah district to remain suspended till 5 pm today.
