Section 144 Imposed In Mandi House Ahead Of Planned March By Students Against CAA

Authorities have banned large gatherings in central Delhi's Mandi House area ahead of the protest march planned by the students of Jamia Millia Islamia University against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Security has also been heightened in the area. The Delhi Police have denied permission to the students to hold any demonstrations. The protests against the Act at the Jamia Millia Islamia entered its ninth day on Tuesday.

The Jamia students, who have been demanding withdrawal of the amendments in the law, on Monday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark that his government has never discussed the National Register of Citizens (NRC) after coming to power for the first time in 2014.

The students asked how many detention centres will the government build if all Muslims, Christians and other minorities are "outsiders" and "illegal migrants".

According to the amended Act, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 and face religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship. President Ram Nath Kovind had given assent to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, turning it into an Act.

Meanwhile, the Jamia Millia Islamia has submitted a fresh report to the HRD Ministry requesting judicial inquiry into the entry of police on the university premises last Sunday. The varsity had earlier submitted reports in the matter on December 15-16. In the fresh report submitted to the ministry on December 20, Jamia reiterated its request for initiation of an inquiry committee or a judicial inquiry to the incident.

In its report, the varsity mentioned that police used teargas and lathicharge to disperse protesters gathered on Mathura Road and Julena Road.