Citizenship Amendment Act Protests LIVE Updates: Two days after violence in Jamia, police holds peace committee meeting

The Left-backed All India Students' Association (AISA) on Tuesday condemned the Delhi Police's action of filing an FIR against three Jamia Millia Islamia students in connection with Sunday's violence in the area around the varsity. The FIR has been filed against seven persons, including former Congress MLA Asif Khan.  The other six accused persons have been identified as local politicians Ashu Khan, Mustafa and Haider, AISA member Chandan Kumar, SIO member Asif Tanha, and CYSS member Kasim Usmani, police said. Rather than taking action against police officials who unleashed violence on the students, the Delhi Police has filed FIR against student activists of Jamia, the AISA said in a statement.  (PTI) 

At the Jamia Nagar Police committee meeting, South East Delhi DCP Chinmoy Biswal said, " We held meeting with locals and listened to their perspective as a confidence-building measure. We appealed to them to maintain law & order, and not pay heed to rumours."

The Congress has decided to take out marches in all state capitals on December 28 to mark its foundation day, a party leader said on Tuesday.
Congress general secretary K V Venugopal said in continuation of the success and momentum generated by the massive Bharat Bachao Rally in Delhi, the party has decided to hold a marches with the slogan “Save India- Save Constitution” at all state capitals under the aegis of respective state units.

Peace committe meeting is being held at Jamia Nagar Police station.

#JUSTIN: Peace committee meeting in Jamia Nagar police station - @DelhiPolice. @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/CnexjhOBT7

— Mahender Singh (@mahendermanral) December 17, 2019

Fresh protests broke out against the amended citizenship law in Seelampur's Brijpuri area on Tuesday night with people pelting stones on police personnel, PTI quoted officials as saying.  The incident took place at around 8:30 pm, but was brought under control, they said.

No action against students, but those engaged in vandalism facing action, Shah said. He said that there is nothing anti-minority in the Citizenship Act adding that the Opposition is engaged in a false campaign on CAA. He also said to have  directed Delhi Police to ensure peace in national capital.

There is no going back on Citizenship Act, government firm like rock on its implementation, said Home Minister Amit Shah. Citizenship Amendment Act will stand legal scrutiny, he added.

Alok Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police, said, "No bullet has been fired (in Seelampur). Only tear gas shells used. Situation is under control now. Some police personnel are injured. 2 public transport buses, 1 Rapid Action Force bus&some bikes damaged during the protest."

Students of Delhi's Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University hold protest over Citizenship Amendment Act.

Delhi: Students of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University hold protest over #CitizenshipAmendmentAct. pic.twitter.com/4o63YTsapi

— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2019

Two University of Madras students who protested allegedly were taken in police custody. The students alleged that police demanded protests be stopped for their release. Over 60 students are resisting police demand inside the University campus

Nine students detained for protesting against CAA, released after 3.5 hours. "We were forced by the police to sign a bond that we would not take part in any protest henceforth but we denied doing so," a student who was released after she was detained for 3.5 hours in SJ Park police station, Bengaluru for participating in CAAProtests said. 

MEA, responding to Pakistan's resolution on CAA, said "Pakistan’s PM Imran Khan has once again peddled familiar falsehoods at a multilateral platform to advance his narrow political agenda by making gratuitous & unwarranted remarks on matters entirely internal to India."

Youth Congress carries out a torch rally, in protest against the incidents at Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University. Congress leader Harish Rawat is also seen to participate in the protest march.

Delhi: Indian Youth Congress carries out a torch rally, in protest against the incidents at Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University. Congress leader Harish Rawat is also participating in the protest march. #CitizenshipAmendmentAct pic.twitter.com/LIjjr7loya

— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2019

"It's a thinly-veiled attempt by Pakistan to further its false narrative on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. It seeks to provide justification for Pakistan’s unrelenting support for cross-border terrorist activities in India. We're confident that such attempts will fail," ANI quoted MEA as saying.

"The Resolution adopted by Pakistan’s National Assembly yesterday (on Citizenship Amendment Act) makes references to matters that are entirely the internal affairs of India. We categorically reject the Resolution," ANI quoted Ministry of External Affairs as saying.

On Tuesday afternoon, violent protests broke out in northeast Delhi's Seelampur. Protesters allegedly hurled stones and police ghit back with tear gas shelling.

Gates of all five Metro stations have been opened. They were closed after violence broke out in Seelampur area.

Security Update

All entry & exit gates of Seelampur are open.

— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) December 17, 2019

Memorandum submitted by leaders of opposition parties to President Ram Nath Kovind. Opposition leaders urged the President to intervene and advise the Govt to repeal the Citizenship Act.

Nineteen people have been arrested here in connection with Monday night's violence, which erupted over police action in Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia, PTI quoted officials as saying. Protesters on Monday had vandalised a police station and torched vehicles as a demonstration against the amended Citizenship Act and police action at Jamia Millia Islamia turned violent here, prompting police to lob teargas shells and fire in the air.

The Opposition unanimously said that they had warned the government about the reverberations of the said amendments to the Citizenship Act but the government was in a rush. They also demanded a judicial probe into police action against Jamia students. Read more...

The amended Citizenship Act is not anti-Muslim, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh assured the Indian community here and said "our culture does not teach us to hate", reported PTI. According to the Citizenship Amendment Act, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014, and facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship. 

CPI leader D Raja too opposed the Bill and termed it unconstitutional. He said that the opposition delegation has raised the matter with the President and put forward their demand to withdraw the Bill. 

leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the government knew that the public of this country would reject the country. Tagging it a Bill to divide the country, he said, the government has to withdraw the Bill.

SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav said, "We have requested President's intervention to maintain peace." CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury demanded rolling back o of the Citizenship Bill.

After meeting the President, Sonia Gandhi addressed the media and said,  "We are anguished with police action in Jamia. Police entered girls' hostels. This is not acceptable,"

Seelampur area cleared after the police-protester clash. 

Opposition party leaders are in a meeting with the president of India over Citizenship Act issue.

In the wake of violent protest in Seelampur area, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday appealed to Delhiites to maintain peace, saying violence cannot be tolerated in a civilised society.

???? ??? ???????????? ?? ???? ?? ?? ????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?? ????? ???????? ???? ?? ?? ????? ????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ????? ???? ??? ????? ?? ???? ???

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 17, 2019

Home Minister Amit Shah: Entire opposition is misleading the people of country. I reiterate that there is no question of taking away citizenship of any person from any minority community. There is no such provision in the bill.

Ministry of Home Affairs in a statement says, "Citizenship Amendment Act has nothing to do with deportation of any foreigner. Usual deportation procedure of any foreigner will apply as per already existing acts. The Act doesn't apply for any Indian."

People take to streets in Delhi's Kalindi Kunj.

Entry and exit at Seelampur and Gokulpuri metro stations are closed, DMRC has notified.

Entry and exit closed at Welcome, Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur metro stations in view of protest against citizenship law in Seelampur.

Police and protesters clash in Seelampur. (Express Photo: Prem Nath Pandey)

A protest against the Citizenship Act on Tuesday turned violent in Seelampur area of northeast Delhi as demonstrators pelted stones at police who had to resort to tear gas shelling to disperse the mob, reported news agency PTI. According to a senior police officer, the protest began around 12 noon when the people from the area assembled at Seelampur T-point and raised slogans against the act, the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the government.

AASU leaders Samujjal Bhattacharya, Lurinjyoti Gogoi court arrest for second day, released later, said Guwahati top cop.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind today filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

As many as 26 people, including eight students, arrested in connection with the violence at Aligarh Muslim University and surrounding areas have been released even as the situation in the University showed marked signs of improvement on Tuesday, officials said. The University has been witnessing violent protests over the amended Citizenship Act. The process of evacuation of hostels at the AMU continued overnight, and according to latest figures provided by the AMU administration, about 9,500 out of 11,500 inmates have left for home, university officials said.

Guwahati resident Ali Akbar plays cards at home for amusement and does workouts in leisure time these days to beat boredom. The good old deck of cards is back in vogue in many households in the city whose people have been living without mobile internet since December 11 evening. "I used to play games online, or surf Facebook or browse YouTube for videos, but since mobile net is suspended, I have no option for online entertainment," Akbar said.

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday expressed hope that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would respond to his call and brief him on the prevailing situation in the state that is witnessing protests over the amended Citizenship Act. ".@MamataOfficial. I am optimistic that my meeting with Honble CM today will address all her concerns and would also be enlightened by her point of view," Dhankhar tweeted. The governor further said that the "dialogue and communication at our level must take precedence as it is quintessence of the spirit of Constitution we all follow".

Terming the ongoing violence and arson in the state over the citizenship law as a "few minor incidents", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said just because the BJP has requisite numbers in Parliament, it cannot bully the states into enforcing the law. Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had said at a Jharkhand rally that the "protesters could be identified by their clothes", she asserted that "miscreants cannot be differentiated on the basis of their attire". Banerjee, who is also the TMC supremo, claimed that the Centre has stopped railway services in the state over "one or two minor incidents" of violence.

Talking further about the Citizenship Amendment Act(CAA) protests, the Supreme Court said, "We find it appropriate to direct petitioners to approach HCs with their grievances. HCs would be at liberty to pass orders on arrests and medical assistance. HCs will also be at liberty to order inquiries."

The Supreme Court said that if anybody commits offence then the police is free to arrest, adding injured students should get medical attention. The Top court also said that incidents have taken place at various places, one inquiry cannot be ordered in these cases.

Centre to SC hearing pleas related to CAA protests: No student is in jail, police took injured students to hospitals.

The Supreme Court took strong note of lawyers arguing at a high pitch and said there should not be a shouting match just because there is a large crowd, media. The court asked the Centre to give details as to why notices were not given to protesters before the arrest and whether medical assistance was given.

Refusing to consider statements of Jamia varsity V-C to press, the Supreme Court said the court is not going to rely on newspapers to arrive at judicial decisions. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for protesters, urged the top court to send a former judge to AMU for fact-finding. Police must have prior permission of VC of university before entering premises, he said.

Leaders of like-minded Opposition parties will meet President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhawan today.

Indira Jaising further says, "Any agency which will be set up to look into the facts must inspire the confidence of the country and the student community." Retired SC judges inspire confidence, she adds. Replying to her the CJI says, "Even the HC can do that."

Indira Jaising appearing for students in Jamia Millia Islamia/Aligarh Muslim University incidents case: It is a cross-state issue and needs a fact-finding SIT. How can the court wash its hands of the issue. Court heard Telangana encounter case. We are asking for a similar order.

Sr Adv Indira Jaising appearing for a petitioner says SC had appointed committee to inquire into facts In Hyderabad encounter & asks why SC was “washing hands off” in this matter. CJI says “there’s no parallel” between the two @IndianExpress

— Ananthakrishnan G (@axidentaljourno) December 17, 2019

The Supreme Court says, "We have disclosed our minds, HCs be approached for fact-finding exercise."

SC asks as to how buses were burnt during protests in Delhi. FIRs have been filed one after another against students at AMU, Jamia, says senior advocate Indira Jaising for protesters. The court says FIRs are to be filed under the law for offences such as destruction of properties.

We don't want to spend time knowing facts, you should go to courts below first, says CJI S A Bobde hearing pleas on CAA protests.

Right to peaceful protests has to be protected by the Supreme Court, says lawyer for Alumni Association of Jamia University.

The Supreme Court has commenced hearing pleas on alleged police atrocities on persons protesting against Citizenship Amendment Act.

Expressing solidarity with the students of Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) over police action, students of Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama in Lucknow organised a protest on Monday during which they were forced to go back inside the college premises by police. There was heavy police deployment outside the premises of the college on Monday. Later in the day, another protest was held by residents in Shabab market near the campus, during which tear gas shells and lathicharge was used by police to disperse the crowd. Read More

DMK president M K Stalin on Tuesday hit out at the Citizenship Amendment Act as "hasty and autocratic" and alleged the BJP-led Centre's objective was not India's progress but trampling the rights of Muslims. Stalin, the leader of opposition in the Assembly, addressing a protest here against the CAA asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fulfilled his electoral promises

The BJP-led Centre's "objective is trampling the (rights of) Muslims, and persecuting them," he said. Slamming the CAA as "hasty, autocratic, and done without due diligence," he demanded to know why the Muslims and Tamil refugees of Srilanka were kept out of the ambit of the Act. (PTI)

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to consider a plea seeking a CBI or a court-monitored SIT probe into the violence during protests against the amended Citizenship Act across the country. The matter was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde, which said, "We will take care of the violence". The bench told advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, the petitioner in the case, that it cannot assume the jurisdiction for anything happening all over the country as the situation and facts may be different. "We are not saying that the issue raised by you is not important," the bench said, adding, "You can try your luck tomorrow".

Fearing that implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act will "affect" the demography and culture of Assam "in the long run", several young women from Guwahati want the contentious CAA to be either struck down by the court or the Centre to listen to the voices of the protesters. From college girls to professionals and city residents to those working out of Assam, a large number of women from the state have either participated in the ongoing protests or pledged their support to the movement.

The curfew imposed in Guwahati on December 11 in the wake of protests against the citizenship law was lifted on Tuesday, officials said. Shops and business establishments were open in the city, and buses, cars and two-wheelers were plying. The decision to lift the curfew in Guwahati was taken at a law and order review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday. "It has been decided to lift the curfew completely in Guwahati from 6 am tomorrow," an official statement had said. However, the statement did not mention anything about resumption of mobile internet services.