Jamia University Students Scuffle With Cops As Their Anti-CAA March To Parliament Stopped

Hundreds of Jamia Millia Islamia University students on Monday scuffled with the police after they were stopped from carrying out an anti-CAA protest march towards Parliament. The protest march against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act was organised by the Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC), an organisation of Jamia students and alumni.

The anti-CAA march was stopped by the police near Holy Family Hospital in Okhala area and the protesters were asked to go back. However, they refused to end their agitation. The police said that the protesters have not sought permission to carry out any march towards Parliament, a high-profile security zone.

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, why should we fear others). Amid heavy deployment of security personnel in and around the university, the protesters, including several women, began their march from Jamia's gate no 7.

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Men formed a human chain on either sides of roads as women walked ahead, waving the tricolour and raising slogans of "Halla Bol".  "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 burqa-clad Zeba Anhad.

A scuffle ensued as policemen tried to stop the protesters. Many of them jumped over barricades to continue their march towards Parliament. Jamia Millia Islamia proctor Waseem Ahmed Khan appealed to the students to disperse and not meddle with the police. "The message has been sent. I request students in the crowd to go back to the university. Respect the law and peacefully go back," he urged the students.

The CAA allows citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians, Parsis and Jains who came to India from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh before 2015 but excludes Muslims. Those opposing the CAA contend that it discriminates on the basis of religion and violates the Constitution. They also allege that the CAA along with the NRC is intended to target the Muslim community in the country.