Yesterday, unrest and violence in Jamia Nagar had created chaos in the national capital. Late last night, Delhi Police had to enter the Jamia Millia Islamia campus to catch the stone pelters and violent protestors.
Later, it was reported that students of AMU had also clashed with UP Police on the night of 15 December. Explaining the details of the ruckus, OP Singh, the DGP of UP, has stated to the media that, after Jamia incident, rumours had spread to AMU where students were gathered. He added that despite the police interacting with the students to remain calm and not resort to violence, some students started stone-pelting.
OP Singh, Uttar Pradesh DGP: The police also fired tear gas shells, at least 16-17 police officers also received injuries, case has been registered. Situation is under control. 2/2 https://t.co/U9jYtaLs8Ipic.twitter.com/wtaGKp2lgv
OP Singh stated that the police, with the university administration, have decided to evacuate the entire campus to avoid further instances of violence. He added that the university also wants the students to be evacuated from the campus.
Dispelling social media rumours, the UP Police had shared images on Twitter where they said the AMU Proctoral team was trying to block the gates and prevent AMU students from going out. The police team, they said, was at AMU circle at that time.
The police stated that despite the proctoral team’s attempts, many students had scaled the gates, and had come outside to clash with the police at AMU circle. Another video showed the police warning the students not to resort to violence and breach orders of unlawful assembly.
When the rioters continued to pelt stones, the police had to fire tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. Reports say that UP CM Yogi Adityanath has taken cognisance of the issue.
Ever since the Citizenship Amendment Bill (now Act) was passed into law, protesters (better called rioters) have sought to intimidate the country by burning trains, burning buses, pelting stones and attacking police. The left liberal propaganda machine, both on mainstream and social media has been coordinating to create an image of a nation in flames.
The truth of course, is different. Outside the North East, where there might be long held fears stemming from a complicated history that caused pain on all sides, the violent protests elsewhere have been very localized to one group of people and one group of institutions. As Modiji said in Jharkhand yesterday, you can often identify them by their clothes.
In fact, the situation in Assam has improved very rapidly. On Saturday, curfew was relaxed from a full 9 am to 5 pm. This improved by an extra hour on Sunday, with curfew lifted from 9 am to 6 pm. It’s Monday and curfew today is lifted right from 6 am in the morning all the way to 9 pm. This leaves only the late night under curfew, which could not possibly be a huge inconvenience.
The epicenter of violence has moved to West Bengal, Jamia Millia University in Delhi and Aligarh Muslim University in Uttar Pradesh. So much anger just because a tiny bit of justice was given to Hindu (and Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, etc) victims of Partition.
These can only be called “protests of entitlement.” These are not when something is taken from you. These are when you get angry that someone you previously considered subhuman is getting the same kind of privileges that you have. It’s a mixture of hatred and bigotry. Like KKK rallies against equal rights for African Americans.
What do these protesters/rioters feel entitled to?
First of all, they feel entitled to destroy public property, burn buses and trains and pelt stones at the police. The entitlement mentality of having “first right to resources” at work. The Govt of India announced this official policy during the dark UPA years. Actually, the media reporting around this 2006 statement missed a crucial point: the remarks were made by Dr. Manmohan Singh speaking in his official capacity of Prime Minister of India at a meeting of the National Development Council. This makes it much more than a mere remark from a politician; it becomes an official policy announcement by the Govt of India. However, I’m sure that well educated AMU and Jamia students would not have missed this serious point.
Second, they feel entitled to overturn a law passed by Parliament by violence on the streets. Thus placing raw street power above the legitimacy of the Indian state, the Indian Constitution and the electoral process. And why not? For long, intellectuals and academics have cultivated the myth of a certain “veto” when it comes to deciding who can rule over India. They felt entitled to that veto and now it is gone.
In fact, at institutions like Jamia and Aligarh Muslim University, it is easy to develop a perception of being above the law of the land. After all, both are fully government funded public universities. Yet both enjoy the status of “minority institution” which makes them almost independent from government control. Most significantly, neither Jamia nor AMU have implemented reservation for SC/ST and OBC students. Those “students” showing off banners of Dr. Ambedkar might want to think about the irony.
Actually, I think they know the irony. They just don’t want to talk about it.
And yes, the Supreme Court has categorically ruled that Aligarh Muslim University cannot be a minority institution. Not today, but in 1967! This was not enforced and a special law was passed in 1981 granting AMU an exemption from the Constitution. Today AMU students are protesting because they think a law that grants special protection to Pakistani Hindus is against Constitution of India? Are we supposed to seriously believe this? Doesn’t it seem more likely that they want to be above the Constitution of India?
Third, do I even need to point out the entitlement behind chants of “Hinduon se Azaadi“?
It is time to say NO! The sense of entitlement stops here. The Constitution begins. You can’t intimidate Parliament by burning buses. And if the police is pelted with stones, they have every right to respond and control the situation. We have heard a lot about communities that are peaceful and believe in equality. This is a good time to prove it.
By not burning buses. By not standing in the way of persecuted, near defenseless and hopelessly outnumbered Pakistani Hindus getting asylum in India.
Over the last 70 years, India must have gathered hundreds of laws on the books giving some or other kind of special privilege to one community. The first time we have a law that gives something to vulnerable Hindus. Equal rights for “non-believers”, for women, for LGBTs, etc are here to stay. Not a step back on this.
There will be measures taken to ensure fairness for marginalized and vulnerable groups, exactly as permitted by the Constitution. Let me describe the Citizenship Amendment Act in a format such that even Dr. Manmohan Singh would like it. Let’s just say that persecuted religious minorities from undivided India shall have the first right to asylum in this country. Get it now?
Last night, a controversial tweet from the official handle of the Press Information Bureau that had called for support for the rioting hooligans of Jamia and condemned the Delhi Police’s retaliatory action had created a buzz on social media.
via Shiv Aroor on Twitter
The official handle of Government of India’s Press Information Bureau, the nodal agency for communicating with media on behalf of the government of India, was seen sharing a tweet in support of the Jamia rioters with hashtags like #SOSJamia, #RejectCAB and #StopViolenceAgainstStudents.
It was shocking for many to see such a tweet from the official PIB handle. Netizens soon figured it out that an identical tweet had been shared from the handle of one Khurshid Zenia, who claimed to be an ex-student of Jamia.
Netizens also reported that the particular person had also tweeted frequently against the government of India. She had even asked from UN help against the government of India’s decision to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act. In one of the tweets, she was seen asking for sanctions against Home Minister Amit Shah.
After the tweets created a buzz on the social media amidst the news of Delhi Police’s crackdown on the Jamia rioters, PIB soon shared a tweet saying that the tweet in support of the Jamia rioters was ‘inadvertently’ done by one of the members of their social media team. They stated that the person had shared ‘her’ personal comments on the Jamia matter and they ‘deeply regret’ the error.
PIB tweet
The person Khurshid Zenia has since deleted her Twitter account after screenshots of her tweets went viral.
A closet jihadi, Khurshid Zenia tweeted calling for violence from @PIB_India Twitter handle shows the level at which traitors have taken over crucial govt depts. For example, such people in police force can be a threat to the lives of VIPs & ordinary Citizens. Time to clean up. pic.twitter.com/H9AZhPX1Xr
The fact that a person who has a clear anti-India agenda and asks for UN action against a democratically elected government is running the official social media handle of the PIB, has created much outrage on the social media. Users are wondering how the PIB had hired people without a basic check of their social media profiles.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Sunday said that the Bangladesh government has requested the Indian administration to provide a list of illegal Bangladeshis living in India. Reportedly, if illegal Bangladeshis are found in India, Bangladesh would allow them to return.
As per reports, he further said that the Bangladesh government will send back anyone who enters Bangladesh without following due process. He said that those who are Bangladeshis have the right to go back to the country but any non-Bangladeshi who enters without following due process will be sent back.
Responding to a question on NRC, he said that India-Bangladesh relations are very sweet and the same wont be affected by implementation of the NRC. He also added that that newly passed Citizenship Amendment Act is India’s internal matter and will not affect India-Bangladesh relations.
He was to visit India last week but cancelled because of ‘busy schedule’.
Radio Mirchi RJ Sayema took to Twitter to incite a mob to take to protest outside the Delhi Police headquarters. She incited people on Twitter to gather in large mobs outside the Delhi Police headquarters to ‘protest peacefully’ against ‘violence by Delhi Police’.
Radio Mirchi RJ Sayema’s tweet inciting mob to gather in large number outside Police HQ in Delhi
Delhi Police had to resort to violence after protestors at Jamia Nagar, where Jamia Millia Islamia university is located, set buses on fire and raised communal slogans.
She later clarified that the mob needs to gather outside the old headquarters of Delhi Police at the ITO.
Protests in Jamia Nagar turned violent as buses were torched and vandalized by Muslim mobs in the National Capital. The protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act began from Jamia Millia Islamia University and it is not clear whether students from the University were involved with the protests or not. Now, Delhi Police has entered the campus to flush out the protesting students.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ihnop9CSoY]
In the video accessed by Opindia.com, noise can be heard and the ‘students’ of the University can be seen running helter-skelter. Surprisingly, all the students were inside libraries and reading rooms for a change. They are usually busy protesting against something or the other. One of the ‘students’ can be heard saying that the Delhi Police is firing tear gas shells to flush out the students. It is also reported that the Police dragged students out of a mosque inside the campus. The students again pelted stones at the Police which forced the latter to retaliate.
Criminal actions of #JamiaMillia students caught on LIVE TV CAMERA.
Stone pelting and violence FROM INSIDE campus and mask wearing thugs outside campus attacking Police and Media from BOTH SIDES.
It is reported that hundreds of ‘protesters’ were paraded out of the University with their hands in the air. The Police said that they had nabbed some outsiders who were indulging in violence. Waseem Ahmed Khan, Chief Proctor, said that the Police have entered the Campus without permission. He said, “Our staff and students are being beaten up and forced to leave the campus.”
Waseem Ahmed Khan, Chief Proctor, Jamia Millia Islamia University: Police have entered the campus by force, no permission was given. Our staff and students are being beaten up and forced to leave the campus. pic.twitter.com/VvkFWtia1G
Jamia Millia Islamia University, which had already seen violent protests earlier, found itself in thick of violence once again. At Jamia Nagar in Delhi where the university is located, Jihadist slogans were raised. The so-called ‘protesters’ raised slogans of ‘Hinduon se Azadi’ and ‘Chheen ke lengey Azadi’ and ‘Ladh ke lengey Azadi’. The slogans translate to ‘Freedom from Hindus’, ‘We will fight for freedom’. Given the violence that was witnessed, the ‘fight’ cannot be interpreted as a non-violent ‘fight’ alone.
Meanwhile, Amanatullah Khan, leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, was reportedly spotted leading the protests that turned violent. Minutes after it was reported that Khan was present at the protest site which turned violent, AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted an appeal for peace.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also alleged that it was actually Delhi Police which facilitated setting the buses on fire at behest of the BJP.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and other Aam Aadmi Party leaders and supporters have cast aspersions that Delhi Police and not the unruly mob protesting against the CAB set the buses on fire in the national capital.
चुनाव में हार के डर से बीजेपी दिल्ली में आग लगवा रही है. AAP किसी भी तरह की हिंसा के ख़िलाफ़ है. ये बीजेपी की घटिया राजनीति है. इस वीडियो में ख़ुद देखें कि किस तरह पुलिस के संरक्षण में आग लगाई जा रही है. https://t.co/IoMfSpPyYD
Taking to Twitter Sisodia said that fearing defeat in upcoming Delhi state assembly elections, BJP is setting Delhi on fire. He said that AAP is against violence of any form and this is dirty politics by the BJP. In the video he shared he is alleging that under the watchful eyes of the Delhi Police the buses were set on fire.
However, if one looks closely, the police is actually helping the firefighters trying to control the fire. He even shared images with red circles to prove a point that the firefighter was actually setting the bus ablaze.
इस बात की तुरंत निष्पक्ष जाँच होनी चाहिए कि बसों में आग लगने से पहले ये वर्दी वाले लोग बसों में पीले और सफ़ेद रंग वाली केन से क्या डाल रहे है.. ?
और ये किसके इशारे पर किया गया?
फ़ोटो में साफ़ दिख रहा है कि बीजेपी ने घटिया राजनीति करते हुए पुलिस से ये आग लगवाई है. https://t.co/8eaKitnhei
Sisodia’s allegations come minutes after it was reported that AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan was part of the mob that turned violent. Defying all logic, while Khan has vehemently denied leading the mob, he even blamed the BJP for accusing him of being part of violent protests where he is actually participating.
Along with Sisodia, other AAP members were also busy spreading allegations that Delhi Police facilitated setting buses ablaze. AAP IT Cell head even extended support to allegations that BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi and others got people to distribute petrol so that the buses can be set on fire.
AAP supporters masquerading as ‘standup comedians’ ‘Aisi Taisi Democracy’ first tried to justify the burning of buses by saying how those who are ‘setting the country on fire’ are questioning those who are ‘setting buses on fire’. After the twisted logic and justification, they claimed that it is Delhi Police, which is part of Home Ministry under Amit Shah, is actually setting the buses on fire.
Violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act which continued across the country Sunday have now reached the national capital, Delhi. Jamia Millia Islamia University, which had already seen violent protests earlier, found itself in thick of violence once again. At Jamia Nagar in Delhi where the university is located, Jihadist slogans were raised.
The so-called ‘protesters’ raised slogans of ‘Hinduon se Azadi’ and ‘Chheen ke lengey Azadi’ and ‘Ladh ke lengey Azadi’. The slogans translate to ‘Freedom from Hindus’, ‘We will fight for freedom’. Given the violence that was witnessed, the ‘fight’ cannot be interpreted as a non-violent ‘fight’ alone.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLcFy0QkO5E]
Three buses have reportedly been torched and firefighters were also attacked by the ‘protesters’. The visuals coming in from the ‘protests’ are extremely distressing. It’s not clear whether the Jamia students were directly involved in the violence or the violence was perpetrated by some other groups who were part of it. The ‘protests’ also pelted stones at the Police and the Police have responded with lathi-charge.
The violence occurred at Delhi’s New Friends colony, not far from the Jamia Milia University. Plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the buses that were torched.
Buses burnt by ‘protesters’ in Delhi’s New Friends Colony not far from Jamia Milia. Video here by @AnuSehgal. Firm in my view that protests must be allowed to take place — but anyone destroying property must suffer to the fullest extent of law. #CABProtestpic.twitter.com/YqS4hhPJNj
Concerned individuals are extremely distressed at the turn of events. The videos of the buses being burnt are highly disturbing.
This in no way is a protest for rights or constitutional democracy. Should be controlled and peace be maintained. And where is that Third Front and Rahul ‘Gandhi’ , politically benefitting out of it!?!@tehseenppic.twitter.com/cCKLeQIZyU
Meanwhile, the students of Jamia Millia have disassociated themselves from the protests. In a statement, they said, “We have time and again maintained that our protests are peaceful and non-violent. We stand by this approach and condemn any party involved in the violence.” They called the violence an attempt to “vilify and discredit genuine protests”.
Jamia Millia Islamia students disassociated themselves from the violent protests in Delhi’s Jamia Nagar
Meanwhile, Amanatullah Khan, leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, was reportedly spotted leading the protests that turned violent. Minutes after it was reported that Khan was present at the protest site which turned violent, AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted an appeal for peace.
Popular Actor in the West Bengal Movie Industry, Badsha Maitra, was spotted at Santragachi where Muslim mobs were on a rampage after the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act. Santragachi is a locality in Howrah City of Howrah district that has its own railway station.
Someone captured pictures of him at the spot and those pictures bean to be circulated with the allegation that he was leading the violence. He can be seen in the pictures wearing a Muslim skull cap.
Source: @vickyagarwall on Twitter
In one picture that was being circulated on social media, smoke can be seen in the background. The actor is on the phone seen talking to someone.
Source: @vickyagarwall on Twitter
Now, the actor has issued a clarification on social media. He said that he was attending a conference organized by DYFI (Democratic Youth Federation of India) in the area. DYFI is an independent organisation but quite a few communist leaders have been associated with DYFI. While he was traveling there, Badsha says he got stuck in the road and was talking to the organizers on the phone. He said that it was reflective of the state of the politics in the country that the images were being used to spread rumours on social media.
Badsha Maitra Facebook post
However, as one person pointed out in a comment in his post, it does not appear necessary to attend a DYFI conference wearing a skull cap. Badsha Maitra has long been associated with the Left. Ahead of the Assembly elections in the state in 2011, he had appealed to people to vote the Left government to power for the eighth time.
Delhi’s Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan was earlier spotted at the venue where the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act turned violent in Delhi’s Jamia Nagar.
#WATCH Earlier today AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan was seen in the area in Delhi where violent protests took place, police sources tell ANI that they are investigating elements that caused violence. #CitizenshipAmendmentActpic.twitter.com/3Guwak4sDJ
As reported by ANI, the police is investigating elements who instigated and caused violence. The protests in Delhi’s Jamia Nagar had turned violent and chants of ‘Azaadi’ from Hindus were heard.
Buses were also set on fire in Delhi.
Protests in Jamia Nagar, Delhi, turn violent.
Minutes after it was reported that Khan was present at the protest site which turned violent, AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted an appeal for peace.
No one shud indulge in violence. Any kind of violence is unacceptable. Protests shud remain peaceful. https://t.co/CUiaGLb9YY
“No one shud (sic) indulge in violence. Any kind of violence is unacceptable. Protests shud (sic) remain peaceful,” he tweeted.
Violence reaches Delhi. Buses torched by anti-CAB protesters. Clouds of fire in New Friends Colony area
.
AAP MLA amanatullah khan was leading protests that have turned violent. stone pelting and buses on fire. @arvindojha
is live from spot. reporting with details.@IndiaToday
According to India Today journalist, Khan was leading the protests which turned violent. However, Khan has denied having been part of it. He said that he was at a different protest venue.
Amantullah confident – BJP trying to defame me and my party. I will submit records of my innocence. I was at different protest, as per peaceful and democratic means.
