Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi stages dharna at India Gate on Monday. (Photo: Twitter @Congress)
Citizenship Act protests: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Monday said the Citizenship Act is an assault on the soul of India and each member of her party will fight Modi government which is turning dictatorial. Speaking at the India Gate, where Priyanka Gandhi sat on a dharna in solidarity with the students protesting against the Act, she said, “Students have a right to raise their voice. This country is theirs.” Police had used force against students of Jamia on Sunday after a protest against the amended law turned violent in which buses were set on fire.
Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit the streets of Kolkata today and said she will continue her protests until the NRC and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) are rolled back. Reading out an oath to thousands gathered, Mamata reiterated that she will not allow the NRC and Citizenship law in the state.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for peace and called the protests against citizenship law “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,” he tweeted.
A day after it entered Jamia campus, police stopped young men heading to protest site, took down their names, addresses and contact numbers.
Students and alumni from the National Law University expressed solidarity with students from Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University and other university students protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019. "We strongly believe in the critical importance of freedom of expression of the student protesters, particularly in a university space where students are taught to think and critically analyse social structures, legal instruments and political power. This is a right that needs to be preserved for the continued sustenance of India as a democracy and a nation that has historically provided a fertile ground for different ideologies and views. We condemn the police action in entering the campuses of Jamia Millia Islamia University and Aligarh Muslim University and violent suppression of students within the hostel and library buildings," a statement issued by the students said.
Referring to Sonia Gandhi's attack on the NDA government for crackdown on university students and anti-CAA protesters, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that Sonia Gandhi is shedding crocodile tears for students. "Indira Gandhi had sent students to Tihar," she added.
In the wake of the protests and violence over the Citizenship Act in various educational institutions across the country, Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday advised the students hailing from the Union Territory, including those studying elsewhere in the country, to “refrain from any such activity which can disturb peace and harmony”. Read more...
Maharashtra CM and Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray in Nagpur: The questions we asked in Lok Sabha on Citizenship Amendment Bill were not answered. There is no clarity on the Citizenship Act.
West Bengal CM has written to Governor Jagdeep Dhankar, the letter states, "Really sorry to see your frequent tweets and press briefings criticising state government. The prime focus of the state administration is to maintain a peaceful situation against what is going on throughout the country."
Amit Shah says, "I appeal to students to understand the Citizenship Amendment Act. There is no provision in CAA that takes away anyone's citizenship. Congress, AAP and TMC are misleading you and creating an atmosphere of violence across the country."
Attacking the BJP-led NDA government over the crackdown on university students and anti-CAA protesters, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi said the Narendra Modi government has started a war on the country and its people.
In a statement, Gandhi said, “A government’s work is to maintain peace and harmony, to run law and order and save protect the Constitution. But the BJP government has launched an attack on the country and its people.” Read more...
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury: CPI(M) is filing a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the CAA. It will be done maybe today. It's all ready.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said, 'Why will there be divide and rule policy? Why will there be hatred? I am not going to bow down before hatred politics. I am confident people who believe in hatred politics will go out, and we, the people who love this country will stay here. (Photo: ANI)
At India Gate on Monday, the main demand was 'take back CAA'
Congress' AK Antony, after party's symbolic protest over police action during students' protests in Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University said, "Tomorrow under the leadership of Congress President Soniaji, almost all important opposition leaders are meeting President of India."
'All should oppose Citizenship law. Students have a right to raise their voice. This country is theirs,' said Priyanka Gandhi. 'Why is PM Modi silent on assault on women, economy, joblessness and what happened yesterday against students,' she asked.
Holding a dharna at Delhi's India Gate over the assault on students of Jamia Milia Islamia University, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak on the issue. "Students are the soul of the nation. The incident was an assault on the Constitution. Students were dragged and beaten. Students have the right to protest. India is a democracy not autocracy," Priyanka Gandhi said.
After West Bengal chief secretary and director general of police failed to turn up to brief him on the current situation in the state over the violent protests against the amended Citizenship act, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday asked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to personally update him on it. He took to Twitter to express his displeasure over the absence of the two senior most officials of the state government despite his summons and described it as "unfortunate and unexpected".
All trains between Kolkata and North Bengal, Northeast suspended in view of anti-citizenship law protests, said officials. Trains between West Bengal and the Northeast have come to a complete halt with the Eastern Railway suspending all its services to the northern region of the state, officials said on Monday.
Eastern Railway (ER) spokesperson Nikhil Chakraborty said no train was running beyond Malda.
Officials said all trains originating from Howrah, Sealdah and Kolkata stations towards north Bengal have been suspended till further notice keeping in mind the safety and security of passengers.
Jagdish Tytler arrives for Congress' symbolic protest near India Gate over police action during students' protests in Jamia Millia Islamia (Delhi) & Aligarh Muslim University.
The government has pushed the country into a storm of violence, and burnt to ashes the future of the youth, says Sonia Gandhi in a press statement.
CAA doesn't make any immigrant Indian citizens automatically. They will have to apply online and qualifications will be as per rules that are being framed under the law: MHA sources
BJP MP Hemanta Biswa Sarma said 190 people were arrested in Assam in connection with violence last week. Twenty-seven injured were admitted to Guwahati Medical College. Out out of them, four died, 13 have been discharged and the remaining are still being treated.
Priyanka Gandhi sits on a symbolic protest at India Gate to express solidarity with the students who faced coercive action by the police on Sunday. (Photo: ANI)
Congress, TMC, AAP Aare indulging in appeasement politics, said Sambit Patra. "We should all heed the CJI who said whoever we are we have no right to play with fire, destroy public property. We should pay heed to the prime minister of this country who has said there should be no violence, arson in the name of dissent, debate," said Sambit Patra.
Conspiracy of Congress and certain other political parties said Sambit Patra. "Owaisi is acting as a new Jinnah of this country. Amanatullah Khan is competing with Owaisi in that," he added.
BJP's Sambit Patra: We condemn the attempt of the Opposition to mislead people in the name of the Citizenship Bill. We condemn their attempt to divide the country into Hindus and Muslims... The Citizenship Bill and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will not strip any community of any citizenship rights.
Priyanka Gandhi will stage a sit-in got two hours at India Gate shortly, says Randeep Surjewala at Congress presser.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Jamia Milia Islamia incident: Government has attacked the Constitution and the students. They attacked students after entering university. We will fight for the Constitution, we will fight against this government.
CMs of MP, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Kerala — all are against the Citizenship Act, said Mamata Banerjee in Bengal rally
Mamata Banerjee: Only BJP will remain here and everyone else will be made to leave — it's their politics. It'll never happen. India is everyone's. Agar sabka sath nahi rahega toh sabka vikas kaise hoga? Who is the #CitizenshipAct for? We're all citizens. Didn't you cast vote? Don't you live here?
A day after violence erupted in parts of south Delhi over the new citizenship law, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said the police must be wary of “jihadists, Maoists, separatists” infiltrating student protests. “I don’t know what happened at Jamia last night; we must be wary of jihadists, Maoists, separatists getting into student protests,” she told news agency PTI. She accused the Congress of “whipping up people’s emotions” on issues like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), saying it shows their “frustration”.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit the streets of Kolkata on Monday along with thousands of partymen and vowed not to allow the proposed country-wide NRC and the amended Citizenship Act in West Bengal.
Amid the nation-wide protests against Citizenship Act, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the demonstrations "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," he tweeted.
PM Modi also "unequivocally" assured the citizens that the Citizenship law doesn't 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," he wrote. "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 a disturbance."
CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury said what happened in Jamia with students is totally unacceptable in a democracy. "Delhi Police under Centre, what is Home Minister Amit Shah's response on the use of force on Jamia students. Citizenship bill cannot be linked to religion, it is not a Hindu-Muslim issue."
"We condemn police entry in Jamia Millia and use of force on students. How did Delhi Police enter Jamia when university admin did not give permission. How could police enter the library and toilets in Jamia as students were screaming for help? We demand judicial probe into Delhi Police action in Jamia," Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said. He also rejected BJP's allegation that Congress is fueling the protests. "Absolutely baseless," he said.
Banerjee took to the streets along with thousands of partymen, and vowed not to allow the proposed country-wide NRC and the amended Citizenship Act in the state. "We will never allow NRC and CAA in Bengal," Banerjee said as she read out an 'oath' for her party workers.
West Bengal Chief Minister reaches the venue where she will hold a mega rally against the amended Citizenship Act.
(Express Photos by Shashi Ghosh)
The BJP in Kerala on Monday slammed the state-wide hartal called by a group of outfits on December 17 against the Centre's decision to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), saying it was "unnecessary" and against "national interest." The saffron party veteran and former state president of the BJP alleged the hartal was being organised by some "extremist groups" with the support of ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF). The conspiracy carried out by the CPI(M) and the Congress with the terror outfits had come to light through this, he alleged adding they were trying to create communal division among people.
In a late-night appeal, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged people to maintain peace and harmony and eschew rumours, after protests broke out in certain parts of the state, including at Aligarh Muslim University. According to PTI, in a statement past Sunday midnight, Adityanath said, 'People should not pay any attention to the rumours about Citizenship Amendment Act being spread by some vested interests.' He also said the state government was committed to provide security to every citizen of the state. 'For this, it is necessary that everyone follows the law. Nobody will be allowed to disturb the atmosphere of peace in the state,' he said.
Union minister of state for home affairs G Kishan Reddy told reporters, "I condemn the violence in the national capital. There should be peaceful protests. You should not indulge in violence and property destruction."
The Supreme Court on Monday said it will hear on December 18 pleas of the Congress and former Maharaja of Tripura Pradyot Kishor Deb Barman challenging constitutional validity of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said it will hear the pleas along with other pending matters coming up for hearing on December 18.
Protests against the newly-enacted Citizenship law broke out in Lucknow's Nadwa college
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Monday appealed to those protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) to desist from indulging in any violence as none had the right to take law into their own hands. "We have no right to take law in our hands... we have no right to indulge in violence.." Khan told reporters in Kochi
His remarks came hours after various students and youth outfits staged unprecedented protests across the state, including in front of his official residence, Raj Bhavan here, against the police action in Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi in connection with the CAA.
When asked by reporters about the stand of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that the new act would not be implemented in the state, Khan had on Sunday asked those opposing the new act "not to jump the gun" and to allow things to settle down. He had also expressed the hope that elected governments would fulfill their constitutional duties. (PTI)
"The CAB & NRC are weapons of mass polarisation unleashed by fascists on India. The best defence against these dirty weapons is peaceful, non violent Satyagraha. I stand in solidarity with all those protesting peacefully against the CAB & NRC," Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter.
Bitter political rivals in Kerala, the CPI(M) and the Congress, and the multi-party coalitions they lead, Monday shed their differences to unite in a protest against the new citizenship law in Thiruvananthapuram. Kerala is one among the five states that have refused to comply with the Citizenship law. (Photo: Maheen Hassan)
Wading into a fresh row with the West Bengal government, Governor Jagdeep Dhankar on Sunday said the advertisement published by the TMC government announcing that it would not implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the new law on citizenship was “unconstitutional” and asked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to withdraw it, arguing that government can’t use public money for such campaigns.
“How can an elected head of a government use public money to give advertisement in national media that there will be no NRC, no CAB in the state? This advertisement is unconstitutional. As the Constitutional head of the state, I had very gracefully invited her (CM) attention. I had urged her (to) withdraw it. I am sure you all will agree that public money can’t be used to lead an agitation against the law of the land,” Dhankhar told mediapersons at a press conference at Raj Bhavan on Sunday evening. “I am sure the Chief Minister will at least withdraw the advertisement, which state that the Citizenship Amendment Act and the NRC will not be implemented in the state. These are unconstitutional. It is a criminal use of public funds,” he added.
Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly targeted the newly-enacted Citizenship law and added that the TMC will oppose it till the end. “If you give citizenship to all the communities, we will accept it. But if you discriminate on the basis of religion, we will oppose it and also fight against it,” the chief minister said earlier
Slamming West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her decision to hit the streets against the amended Citizenship Act, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday urged her to desist from "unconstitutional and inflammatory" actions. He stated that the CM should devote her attention to restoring normalcy in the state, where violent protests over the law have been raging over the past three days.
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