Modi reviews security as anti-CAA protests continue

Resmi Sivaram

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday sat with his cabinet members to review security in the country as protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) remained aflame in several states, and the death toll in Uttar Pradesh alone mounted to 17 since Thursday.

However, death toll across the country crossed 20 on Saturday.

Sources said Modi also was reviewing the progress made by various ministries in the last six months after he assumed power for a second term.

Brief presentations are being made by ministries on various decisions taken by them Modi was set to address a public rally at Ramlila Grounds in Delhi on Sunday.

He had been busy campaigning in Jharkhand where the Assembly elections closed on Friday.

Home Minister Amit Shah also might join the prime minister at Ramlila.

BJP sources said it will be the launch of the campaign for the Delhi assembly elections, which are likely to be held in February.

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) officially began its poll campaign with the slogan ‘Achche Beete Panch Saal, Lage Raho Kejriwal (last five years went very well, continue Kejriwal)” on Friday.

As the protests continued in the national capital as well, Jamia Millia Islamia students on Saturday staged a protest outside the university campus.

This is the fifth day of protests outside the university against the CAA after more than 50 Jamia students were injured in a police crackdown following violence during a demonstration last Sunday.

Saturday’s protest was led by women students and was later joined by its male students.

Many former students also joined the demonstration.

The protesters, including university students, local people and children, took out a march carrying posters, banners and tricolours.

The organisers warned the protesters against using “negative” slogans against anyone.

The protesters formed human chains on both the sides of the roads to ensure that traffic movement was not affected.

Also on Saturday Delhi Police arrested Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad in connection with the violence in Old Delhi’s Daryaganj, on Friday evening. Azad had led a day-long protest march from Jama Masjid to Jantar Mantar on Friday against the CAA, despite being denied permission.

Police said Azad has been charged with inciting a mob to indulge in violence.

On Friday evening, after security personnel tried to detain him during the march, Azad surfaced inside the mosque.

He had given the Delhi police a slip to reach the mosque. He came outside Jama Masjid early Saturday and was detained.

He was arrested later, police said.

The total number of people arrested in connection with the violence has now reached 16, according to police. Those arrested have been charged with rioting and using force to deter policemen from doing their duty.

Over 16 people including minors, who were detained by cops in anti-Citizenship Law protests, have been released by Delhi Police after people gathered at the Delhi Police headquarters on Friday night and demanded their release.

According to police, the protesters had set ablaze a private car park at Subhash Marg area on Friday evening. However, the fire was immediately doused by the policemen.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday accused the BJP-led Central government of “applying a dictatorial mindset” to suppress the voice of people over the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register for Citizens (NRC).

She also said that the CAA and the NRC are against the Constitution and against the poor of the country.

In a statement, Priyanka Gandhi, who is also the party in-charge for eastern Uttar Pradesh, said: “The NRC and the CAA are against the fundamental spirit of the Constitution and assault on B.R. Ambedkar’s Constitution will not be allowed at any cost.”