Fri. Mar 29th, 2024
priyanka-gandhi-protest

Congress party has extended its support to the students of Jamia Milia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University over the recent police actions against the students. Party’s general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra with many of the party’s senior leaders sat on a ‘symbolic protest’ at the India Gate on Monday.

The students were seen protesting against the recently passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act that declares Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zorastrian, Parsis, and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan eligible for citizenship who came to India before December 31, 2014. Although the Bill only carries the provision of citizenship for the non-muslim population that arrived from the neighboring nations.

The protest began at 4 pm under Priyanka Gandhi’s leadership. Congress party workers were seen carrying placards that read- “Stop attacks on young students” and “Not lathi and shooting, give us employment”. Prominent law-makers who joined the protest included general secretary KC Venugopal, Ahmed Patel, PL Punia, former Defence Minister AK Antony and national spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Congress leaders accused the BJP government of attacking the Constitution and the students. Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad also lashed out at the ruling saffron party and said that “real culprit” is the Central government that passed the ‘unpopular’ Bill in Parliament. Priyanka Gandhi posted her stand on the matter through a series of tweets on Twitter.

Speaking on the student’s beating, Randeep Singh Surjewala said, “This is a government that has attacked the rights of youths and students of the country. That is why Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other senior Congress leaders have decided to sit on a symbolic protest at the India Gate from 4 pm for the next 2 hours.” The leader also posted the party’s official statement over the matter through his official Twitter account.

On Sunday, several students and cops sustained injuries in a protest in the Jamia Nagar area. Speaking on the alleged protest, Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa said that some people had turned violent and started pelting stones on the police.

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By Saurabh Parmar

Digital Journalist (Specializing in Indian affairs & Contemporary Political development)

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