Even as protests are likely to continue on Wednesday, the Supreme Court responded to petitions filed by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, the Indian Union Muslim League and Asom Gana Parishad saying the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act could not stayed. The court asked the Centre to respond to the 60 petitions filed in the apex court.
In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took out yet another massive rally and harshly criticised the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre saying, “You (Amit Shah) are Home Minister of the country not only a BJP leader, please maintain peace in the country. You have not done ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’ but ‘sabke saath sarvanash’. Withdraw CAA & NRC, or else I will see how you implement it here.”
In Delhi Section 144 was imposed in the North East Delhi district after protests turned violent on Tuesday.
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6.20 pm: UN expresses concern over violence during protests
“We are concerned about the violence and alleged use of excessive force by security forces that we’ve seen that have been taking place in the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. We very much call for restraint and urge full respect for the rights of freedom of opinion and expression and peaceful assembly,“UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a daily press briefing.
5.28 pm: Kamal Haasan visits Madras University
Kamal Haasan met the students of Madras University who are protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. He said that 800 students are protesting in Madras University.
3:23 pm: 6 Arrested, 3 FIRs Lodged In Delhi’s Seelampur Violence
The Delhi police has now said that three FIRs have been lodged in the Seelampur violence and that 6 people have been arrested. The police said that the FIRs have been registered in Delhi’s Seelampur, Jafrabad and Dayalpur.
Section 144 has been imposed in North East Delhi district.
3:10 pm: You Have Not Done ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, But Sabke Saath Sarvanash’, Says Mamata Banerjee
Mamata Banerjee said during the protest, “You (Amit Shah) are Home Minister of the country not only a BJP leader, please maintain peace in the country. You have not done ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’ but ‘sabke saath sarvanash’. Withdraw CAA & NRC, or else I will see how you implement it here.”
NDTV quoted her as saying, “You say no one will lose citizenship. But now you say no PAN, no Aadhar, nothing will work... Then what will work? An amulet from the BJP? The BJP has become a washing machine.”
3:08 pm: Delhi HC Transfers Plea To Release Jamia, AMU Students To Chief Justice
A Delhi High Court judge Wednesday transferred to the Chief Justice a plea seeking direction for release of the students and residents of Jamia Milia Islamia University and Aligarh Muslim University who were allegedly detained by the police and paramilitary forces during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
Justice Vibhu Bakhru sent the matter before Chief Justice DN Patel for Thursday after the court was informed by Centre’s counsel that the Supreme Court on Tuesday had said that the cases relating to CAA violence be heard by the Chief Justices of respective high courts.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the petition, filed by a lawyer and two women students of Jamia Millia Islamia Univeristy, be sent to the Chief Justice and they will argue the matter there. (PTI)
1:24 pm: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Leads Yet Another March Against CAA
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is out on the streets again, with yet another massive rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens, reported NDTV.
This time she marched from Howrah towards Kolkata with a sea of followers in tow.
1:20 pm: DMK Passes Resolution Rejecting CAA
12:16 pm: Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid Says CAA ’Nothing To Do With Indian Muslims
Amid uproar against the Citizenship Amendment Act across the country, Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid has said that it had nothing to do with Indian Muslims, almost parroting what the Modi government has been saying.
Here’s what ANI quoted him as saying:
12:11 pm Delhi HC Agrees To Hear PIL Seeking Fact-Finding Committee To Probe Jamia Violence
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday agreed to hear a PIL seeking setting up of a fact- finding committee to look into the violence at Jamia Millia Islamia University following protests over the amended Citizenship Act.
The petition was mentioned before a bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Rekha Palli by advocate Rizwan and the court allowed it to be listed on Thursday.
The petition by Rizwan alleges that Delhi Police “resorted to use of arbitrary, excessive, discriminatory and illegal force against students, more particularly female students, of Jamia Millia Islamia University, on the false pretext of restoring law and order”.
It further alleges that students and teachers were protesting in a peaceful manner against the amended Citizenship Act but the police disrupted it and used “unjustified, excessive, arbitrary and brute force” against them. (PTI)
11.15 am: Supreme Court issues notice to Centre on petitions against the CAA
The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to file a response by the second week of January on the 60 petitions filed against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Bench head by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and including Justice BR Gavai and Justice Surya Kant refused to stay the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, and said they would have a hearing in January.
10.58 am: Madras University students continue protests
A section of students of the Madras University continued their protest on Wednesday against the Citizenship Amendment Act, reported PTI.
Police personnel had entered the campus on Tuesday and said they had done so for the “safety of the students.”
10.27 am: Section 144 imposed in Delhi’s North-East district: Reports
ANI quoted Delhi Joint Commissioner of Police as saying that Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) has been imposed in North East District
This comes after violent clashes between protesters and police personnel on Tuesday.
10:16 am: 6 Arrested For Seelampur Incident, Delhi Police ‘Conducting Raids’ To Detain More
Now, the Delhi police have said that they have arrested 6 people in connection with the Seelampur incident on Tuesday. According to the police they are “conducting raids” to detain more people who have allegedly been identified.
9:10 am: Entry/Exit Gates Of All Delhi Metro Stations Open Now
8:51 am: BJP Minister Says ‘Shoot Protesters At Sight’
The outrage over police violance in Jamia Millia Islamia University and Aligarh Muslim University seems to have not conveyed the people’s message to this BJP union minister.
Suresh Angadi, the Union Minister of State for Railways, told news agency ANI, “I have told the district administration and railway authorities concerned that if anybody destroys public property, they can be shot at sight. I am giving this directive as a Union Minister.”
8:45 am: Delhi Police FIR For Jamia Incident Says 75 Tear Gas Shells Used
The Delhi police in its FIR filed in the Jamia Millia incident has said that a total of 75 tear gas shells were used to disperse protesters. The FIR also stated that some “miscreants” pelted stones.
The FIR also states that the Delhi police reportedly entered the Jamia campus to “identify miscreants” and “for safety of students”.
8:43 am: Entry, Exit Gates To Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur Stations Still Closed