CAA Protest: Students protest, crowdfund for those injured in Jamia, AMU

NEW DELHI: Continuing their agitation against the recently-passed Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, students in various university and colleges campuses organised fresh protests on December 18, 2019.

Across India, student bodies of several institutions also issued statements extending support to students of Jamia Millia Islamia University and Aligarh Muslim University, who faced police action, batons, pellet guns and tear gas, on December 15, 2019.

The AMU Vice Chancellor, Tariq Mansoor in a statement issued on December 18, admitted that the AMU administration called the police to the campus. However, he has assured the students that he would act on their complaints against "police excesses". The Jamia Teachers' Association came out in support of the students and expressed their gratitude towards other University who extended their support to Jamia.

The student protests began in Delhi itself on the night of December 15 and then spread to other parts of the country. Students from dozens of campuses joined on December 16 and 17.

The Protests

Students from the Indian Institute of Management-Kozhikode gathered at the main gate of the campus to express their dissent against police brutality and the North-East blackout.

Students of Jawaharlal Nehru University have announced a march against "unconstitutional CAA and NRC". Speakers from JMI and AMU have been invited at the event.

Students of Sampuranand Sankrit University organised a protest to mark their disapproval of violence meted out on university students of JMI and AMU.

A group of students in the Netherlands is organising a peaceful sit-in against the CAA on December 20 at the Indian Embassy, The Hague. The students have also issued a statement condemning the violence in AMU and Jamia which has over 600 signatories.

In solidarity with JMI and AMU students and against the CAA and NRC the students of Jamia Hamdard in Delhi organised a peaceful protest.

In Tamil Nadu, C. Abdul Hakeem College, Arcot, Vellore and Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur also protested against the discriminatory law.

‘Assault on every student’s right’

Flame University, Pune and K.C. college, Mumbai issued statements to express solidarity with the student protesters and rejecting CAA and in support of Jamia and AMU students. “We believe that a university represents a safe space for the young citizen to claim a voice and exercise their rights. An assault on these rights in one part of the country is an assault on every student’s right to be active, engaged citizens of our democracy,” read the statement released by Flame University students.

The statement issued by K.C College students echoed that sentiment: “The Constitution of India safeguards every citizen’s right to protest...there have been coordinated attempts to mute dissenting voices in educational campuses and a systematic attack on the freedom of expression of students and the members of academia.”

The students’ body of the National Law School of India University, Bangalore, has produced a booklet explaining the implications of the CAA is said on Twitter that it is “looking to make translations in as many languages as possible”.

‘I have lost my vision’

In Jamia, injured students addressed the media for the first time since Sunday’s attack. Second-year LLB student, Minhajuddin was beaten brutally. He was studying in the central library when the police barged in and started beating up the students. Speaking to Quint and NDTV Minhajuddin said: “The doctors have said after looking at my [medical] reports that I have lost my [vision]. In the doctor's opinion, it will start affecting my other eye and I may become completely blind.” Fellow students at Jamia and Twitteratis have come forward to help Minhajuddin. A crowdfunding drive has begun to support him financially for his eye operation.

Speaking at a press meet on Wednesday, another student Mohammad Mustafa recounted the incident as he experienced it: “The most disgusting part was that they asked us to offer our last prayers. We thought we are going to die. I felt how the police have become so biased and it is targeting a particular community.” Mustafa has suffered severe injuries on both hands and appeared for the press meet with bandages.

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