Jamia Anti-CAA March Towards Parliament Stopped Near Okhla After Protesters Breach Security Cordon

Amid heavy deployment, the mega anti-CAA march towards Parliament was stopped near Okhla on Monday. Two groups of protesters from Mandi House and Jamia Nagar assembled outside the Jamia Millia Islamia and started walking towards the main road. However, they were stopped by the police. The protesters were seen climbing the barricades and breaching the security cordon. As the tension grew, Jamia Millia Islamia Chief Proctor Waseem Ahmad issued an appeal to the protesters. “I request both students and police to deal with the situation in a calm manner. I appeal to students to move back,” Ahmad said.

The protesters, including Jamia students and alumni, were led by the Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC). They were marching towards Parliament to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Police said the protesters did not have permission to march towards Parliament. There was heavy deployment of security personnel, many donning riot gear, in and around the university. The protesters began their march from Jamia's gate no. 7. The police appealed to them to end their march. The protesters raised slogans like "Kagaz Nahi Dikhayenge" (We will not show documents)" and "Jab Nahi Dare Hum Goron Se Toh Kyun Dare Hum Auron Se" (When we did not fear the British, then why should we fear others).

Several women are also part of the protest. Many waved tricolour and raised slogans of "Halla Bol". Men formed a human chain on either sides of roads as women walked ahead. "It has been two months since we are protesting. No one from the government has come to talk to us, so we want to go to talk to them," said Zeba Anhad, a burqa-clad protester.

A scuffle ensued as policemen tried to stop the protesters. Many protesters jumped over barricades. The area has turned into the epicentre of the anti-CAA protests. Previously, the Centre on February 4 told Delhi High Court that the investigation into the incident of violence at Jamia Millia Islamia during an anti-citizenship law protest was at a crucial stage. The submission before a bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar was made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta while seeking more time to file a report regarding the probe.

Jamia Millia Islamia students and locals had protested at Jamia Nagar in Delhi on December 15, 2019 against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Protesters allegedly torched four buses and two police vehicles as they clashed with the police in New Friends Colony. Delhi Police baton charged the protesters and used tear gas shells to disperse the mob before entering the varsity campus, detaining several persons allegedly involved in the violence.

(With agency inputs)