A scene from the protest by various student organisations of Jamia Millia Islamiya in Delhi
New Delhi: Hundreds of students from Jamia Millia Islamia took part in a protest march jointly organized by various student organizations, including AIRSO, AISA, AISF, DISSC, Fraternity Movement, Mewati Student's Union, SFD, and SIO. The organisers claimed that it was a powerful display of solidarity and a firm commitment to justice and peace.
The protest was aimed to address the recent violence in Nuh, Haryana, linked to the Hindutva organization VHP and also highlighted incidents such as bulldozing of houses and the alleged wrongful arrests of youths under false charges.
The demonstration started at the Jamia Central Canteen and was planned to advance towards Haryana Bhavan. However, the peaceful march was stopped at Gate No. 7 of Jamia Millia Islamia by the university administration, along with the Delhi Police and RAF personnel, the spokesperson of the collective said in a press release. .
The students assert that this move was a conspiracy to detain them under the pretext of G20-related concerns.
The blocking of demonstrations of the nature comes in the backdrop of the impending 2024 General Election, with concerns regarding divisive strategies by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and affiliated factions.
On July 31, 2023, the Brajmandal Yatra, an armed procession organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), triggered severe communal tensions, leading to violent clashes, causing six casualties and extensive destruction of Muslim-owned properties.
Shockingly, it was followed by the Haryana Government bulldozing over 1208 houses during this tumultuous period, alleging illegal constructions.
In a subsequent move, the Bajrang Dal postponed their Yatra to August 28th, raising apprehensions over the presence of convicted individuals and the persistent threat to Muslim lives.
Certain BJP politicians further exacerbated the situation by attributing blame to the Muslim community, further intensifying tensions.
The Haryana government faces the crucial challenge of preventing further violence during the rescheduled Yatra. It is imperative that past issues related to such incidents be addressed comprehensively to ensure peace and stability.
The government must take decisive action to prevent any potential trouble and ensure the safety of all citizens, the protesters demanded.
Responding to this, students from Jamia Millia Islamia University strongly opposed the Yatra and urged both the Haryana and Central Governments to halt the Yatra and hold those responsible for previous violence against Muslims, accountable.
The students appealed to all opposition parties and student organizations across various campuses to address the alarming situation in Nuh and work towards an immediate restoration of peace.
Key demands of the protest include, rebuilding the bulldozed houses, revoking fake FIRs and releasing innocent Muslims, restricting the rescheduled VHP rally, arrest of VHP/ Bajrang Dal-backed culprits responsible for the violence, ensuring the immediate safety of Muslim citizens in Mewat and preventing the dissemination of false information by the RSS.