Students from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Jadavpur University and IIT Mumbai have come in support of Jamia Millia Islamia students after the alleged use of police force on Sunday which left several injured. The opposition parties also came together today against the alleged police excesses at the Jamia Milia Islamia and the new citizenship law, which had triggered countrywide protests.
Earlier, students staged strong protests in Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University in Uttar Pradesh against the amended Citizenship Act approved by the Parliament on Wednesday.
After the evening's violence in Delhi, during which a pitched battle took place between the protesters and the police and buses and two-wheelers were burnt, the police had barged into the Jamia campus without permission, rounded up and detained around 100 students.
In Aligarh and Meerut, internet services were cut to avoid spreading of rumours.
While an uneasy calm prevailed in Assam, West Bengal plunged deeper into chaos with incidents of arson and loot reported from the state.
Here are the highlights from protests against Citizenship Act:
#Watch | Anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests at Delhi's India Gate today. Protesters read out the Preamble of the Constitution.
- NDTV (@ndtv) December 16, 2019
Follow live updates: https://t.co/mWhVDbmMvF pic.twitter.com/5o0rechQCM
This!🙏🏻 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/X8qj9sCdEO
- Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk) December 16, 2019
"This country is for everyone, it is for all those students who were beaten yesterday. Attack on students is an attack on the soul of India": Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at protest to show solidarity with students.
- NDTV (@ndtv) December 16, 2019
More https://t.co/Fbzw6mR9Q5 pic.twitter.com/4EfJQCqzYE
"The manner in which students from other universities have risen to support Jamia Millia Islamia is praiseworthy": Swara Bhasker on protests against #CitizenshipAct.#CitizenshipAct #NDTVExclusive #CAA2019
- NDTV (@ndtv) December 16, 2019
Follow live on https://t.co/Fbzw6mR9Q5 and NDTV 24x7 pic.twitter.com/rmDSnhTLtv
Delhi: Jagdish Tytler arrives for Congress' symbolic protest near India Gate over police action during students' protests in Jamia Millia Islamia (Delhi) & Aligarh Muslim University. pic.twitter.com/Micwuab2Kj
- ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2019
We are with the students! Shame on you @DelhiPolice
- Konkona Sensharma (@konkonas) December 15, 2019
- Delhi Police on Monday said that they used minimum force to restrain the violence that took place at Jamia Millia Islamia university.
- Speaking to media, Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa said that the protestors burnt four buses, while 100 vehicles were damaged in total.
- Mr Randhawa said that 40 police personnel, including senior officials, were injured and one of them was admitted in ICU.
- The senior police official denied the rumour of that a police personnel had set ablaze a bus during protests.
- He further appeled not spread or pay attention to any of the rumour about the incident.
She further appealed people to not to resort violence during protests.
Few people took money from BJP and indulged in vandalism and arson, alleges Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee amid violence in West Bengal.
- This is the time to maintain peace, unity and brotherhood. It is my appeal to everyone to stay away from any sort of rumor-mongering and falsehoods.
- Violent protests on the Citizenship Amendment Act are unfortunate and deeply distressing.
- Debate, discussion and dissent are essential parts of democracy but, never has damage to public property and disturbance of normal life been a part of our ethos.
- The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 was passed by both Houses of Parliament with overwhelming support. Large number of political parties and MPs supported its passage. This Act illustrates India's centuries old culture of acceptance, harmony, compassion and brotherhood.
- I want to unequivocally assure my fellow Indians that CAA does not affect any citizen of India of any religion. No Indian has anything to worry regarding this Act. This Act is only for those who have faced years of persecution outside and have no other place to go except India.
- The need of the hour is for all of us to work together for the development of India and the empowerment of every Indian, especially the poor, downtrodden and marginalised.
We cannot allow vested interest groups to divide us and create disturbance.
- This is the time to maintain peace, unity and brotherhood. It is my appeal to everyone to stay away from any sort of rumour mongering and falsehoods.
"I am concerned about the law and order situation in Delhi. Peace should be restored in Delhi - I have sought time from Home Minister Amit Shah for this."
दिल्ली की बिगड़ी क़ानून व्यवस्था को लेकर मैं बहुत चिंतित हूँ। दिल्ली में तुरंत शांति बहाल की जाए- इसके लिए गृह मंत्री अमित शाह जी से मिलने का समय माँगा है।
- Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 16, 2019
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is leading a mega protest march in Kolkata. The protest march started from city's Gandhi Statue and will end at Joransako.
On being asked the number of student who were hurt in the violence, Ms Akhtar said, "around 200".
She further said that the "student suffered an emotional loss" and asked who will bear the responsibility for it.
"25-30 per cent AMU hostels vacated, rest expected to be vacated by evening," says Aligarh SSP
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has challenged the Citizenship Amendment Act in the Supreme Court and his plea will be heard on Wednesday.
Ramesh has challenged the new law in his personal capacity. He had filed the petition on December 13.
"Given the urgent situation that has developed around the rushed and insidious Citizenship Amendment Act, I approached the Hon''ble Supreme Court to hear my matter urgently.
- We are not against peaceful demonstrations but we can't allow people to go on streets, indulge in rioting: Supreme Court on Citizenship Act protests.
- We are not to be bullied like this, says SC when lawyers ask it to take cognisance of violence on Citizenship Act.
- The only thing we want is that rioting must stop: SC on violent protests against Citizenship Act.
Supreme Court agrees to hear on Tuesday batch of pleas alleging violence against peaceful protest of students opposing Citizenship Amendment Act.
Two FIRs over property damage and riots have been registered by Police in connection with violence during protests in Jamia Nagar area in Delhi yesterday.
Lawyers headed by Indira Jaising to request CJI to take suo-motu cognizance of the alleged police action on students in Delhi.
"We acted with utmost restraint, never entered any hostel": UP top cop
Watch | "We acted with utmost restraint, never entered any hostel": UP top cop on yesterday's protest at #AligarhMuslimUniversity
- NDTV (@ndtv) December 16, 2019
Read more here: https://t.co/uo9vlktf4z#CitizenshipAct #AMUProtest #JamiaMillia pic.twitter.com/ngf2jiSv8n
Speaking to NDTV, Uttar Pradesh's DGP Om Prakash Singh has said that the police will evacuate the university campus today and send students home.
A student, Qazi Noorul Mateen, is admitted to ICU after the police action. Mr Mateen is an Aligarh Muslim University who was visiting Jamia to give his NET JRF exam. He was then hanging out with his Jamia friends at the time of incident.
Traffic movement is closed from Sarita Vihar to Kalindi Kunj, Road No. 13A. Motorists heading towards Delhi from Noida are requested to take Mathura Road, Ashram and DND and those coming from Badarpur side take Ashram Chowk.
All schools in southeast Delhi area are closed today in view of the situation that emerged after violence near the Jamia university, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced on Sunday.
"In Delhi's south east district areas including Jamia, Okhla, New Friends Colony and Madanpur Khadar, all government and private schools will remain closed tomorrow. Delhi government has taken the decision in view of the current situation," Mr Sisodia tweeted in Hindi.
A Jamia student has alleged that police entered the girls hostel and library. In an emotional message, she asked if the education giver to students is only for running machines.
Watch | "They entered our hostels... Is this democracy? What wrong did we do? We were simply protesting": Student recounts police crackdown at #JamiaMillia university yesterday. #CitizenshipAct #DelhiProtests #Jamia pic.twitter.com/VgZIu09SnA
- NDTV (@ndtv) December 16, 2019
Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday summoned the West Bengal chief secretary and the director general of police to brief him on the situation following violent protests in the state against the amended citizenship law.
He said the situation in Bengal was "seriously compromising" the values of the Constitution.
"Taking note of highly disturbing developments in the State that seriously compromise our constitution values and rule of law, both the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police have been called upon to seen me tomorrow at Raj Bhawan at 10 am and brief me on the situation," Mr Dhankhar tweeted.
Mobile internet services to remain suspended starting from 12 pm of December 15 until further orders, in order to maintain law and order.
"Won't be satisfied till allegations of vandalism against Jamia students are not cleared": Students protesting outside Delhi Police HQ
As many as 50 students were detained during protests at the Jamia Millia Islamia University, news agency PTI has reported.
Earlier on Sunday night, the Delhi Minority Commission (DMC) issued a direction to the SHO of Kalkaji Police Station to release the "injured" Jamia students held there or take them for treatment at a reputed hospital without any delay.
The commission also directed the officer to file a compliance report by 3 pm on Monday.