Anti-CAA Protest Breaks Out in Jamia; Acting VC Says Not Allowed Near Campus

The Delhi Police have deployed a large number of personnel to ensure law and order on the campus amidst the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) situation.

Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi. (File Photo)

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New Delhi: Protests broke out at the Jamia Millia Islamia campus on Monday, following the Centre's notification of the rules of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). This led to a significant police presence at the university. A group of students, led by the Muslim Students Federation (MSF), chanted slogans against the Modi government and the Delhi Police. The Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India (NSUI) also raised its voice against the implementation of the Act, as reported by news agency PTI. A senior police officer said that security around the Jamia campus has been strengthened to prevent further gatherings outside the campus.

Jamia Acting Vice-Chancellor Eqbal Hussain said, "We have tightened security arrangements to avoid any kind of agitation on the campus. No protest against the CAA will be allowed by students or outsiders near the campus."

A video has emerged showing a group of students on the Jamia campus holding posters and banners while raising slogans against the CAA and the NRC (National Register of Citizens).

"NSUI Jamia Millia Islamia protests against the decision of the Central government to implement the unconstitutional CAA," a statement by NSUI's Jamia unit said.

To express their protest, Jamia NSUI president N S Abdul Hameed and Vice President Dibya Jyoti Tripathy organised an event to read the Constitution's preamble. Jamia emerged as the focal point of anti-CAA protests in 2019-2020. During the protests, police entered the Jamia campus in pursuit of alleged miscreants who had set fire to some buses.

Police officers were accused of assaulting students in the university library on December 15, 2019, resulting in several student injuries during the violence.

Notably, the Jawaharlal Nehru University on Monday issued an advisory urging students to stay vigilant and uphold "peace and harmony" on campus. The advisory was released shortly after the Centre notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) regulations, clearing the way for its implementation before the Lok Sabha elections.