'Will Allow Traffic Passage, But Won't Call Off Stir': Shaheen Bagh CAA Protesters To Delhi LG

Thousands of people, including women and children, have been protesting for over a month at Shaheen Bagh and nearby Jamia Millia Islamia against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Lt Governor Anil Baijal during a meeting with representatives of the Shaheen Bagh protestors regarding staging their agitation against CAA and NRC without blocking the road. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: After days-long standoff with Central government over implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), protesters of Shaheen Bagh on Tuesday met Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal to come to a conclusion over the ongoing protests against the new legislation. An eight member delegation from protests site met the LG during the day, saying that they are open to come up with a solution of road blockade, but will continue with their protest. During the meeting, LG appealed to them to call off their agitation as it has been causing inconvenience to schoolchildren, patients and general public. According to reports, the delegation  submitted a memorandum of their demands, including withdrawal of the controversial legislation, to Delhi LG. "Met the delegation of protestors from Shaheen Bagh. Assured them to convey their concerns to appropriate authorities. Appealed to call off their agitation in view of continued inconvenience to school children, patients, daily commuters, local residents, etc due to blockade of road," Baijal tweeted soon after the meeting.

I once again request all to maintain peace and order.

— LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) January 21, 2020

Thousands of people, including women and children, have been protesting for over a month at Shaheen Bagh and nearby Jamia Millia Islamia against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). After the meeting, delegation member said that the LG has promised to take their concerns to the Home Ministry. Joint Commissioner of Police (Southern Range) Devesh Srivastava and DCP (South-east) Chimnoy Biswal were present in the meeting. According to the LG office, the delegation assured Baijal that they would convey his message to other protestors at Shaheen Bagh. The delegation of protesters also made it clear that they will allow traffic passage for all school vans and ambulances to pass through the area, adding they will wait for Supreme Court directive tomorrow. ALSO WATCH | Protest Continues Against CAA, NRC Across The Country "The LG also directed the police officers concerned to take all steps as per law to ensure peace and harmony in the area," officials told news agency PTI. Earlier in the day, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) asked authorities to identify and arrange counselling for children seen at protests against the CAA at Shaheen Bagh. The agreement between protesters and LG comes a day after Delhi Police appealed Shaheen Bagh agitators to unblock the road as several parents of the school going children expressed concerns over the forthcoming board examinations. The police had made a similar appeal last week, asking agitators to unblock the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch in 'public interest.' The central government has dismissed the allegations, maintaining that the law is intended to give citizenship to the persecuted people from the three neighbouring countries and not to take away citizenship from anyone.