Priyanka leads Congress dharna in solidarity with Jamia varsity students

Leaders from the Congress, led by party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, staged a dharna at the India Gate on Monday (December 16) in solidarity with students protesting against the amended Citizenship Act.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the two-hour protest, which began at 4 pm, will express solidarity with students from Jamia Millia Islamia University and other places.

Vadra, along with KC Venugopal, AK Antony, PL Punia, Ahmed Patel, Jagdish Tytler and other Congress leaders sat on a “symbolic protest” over the use of force by the police during students’ protests in Jamia Millia Islamia (Delhi) and Aligarh Muslim University.

Police had used force against students on Sunday after a protest against the amended law turned violent, and buses were torched.

Meanwhile, attacking the opposition over violence during protests against the amended Citizenship Act, the BJP on Monday said that a few parties were trying to “instigate” students and use them as “pawns” to further their petty political interests.

Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra accused the opposition of misleading people and trying to “bifurcate” the country in the name of Hindus and Muslims.

“These students are educated and know that the Citizenship Act does not discriminate against any Indian citizen irrespective of caste or religion,” he said and urged people to heed the advice of the Prime Minister and Chief Justice of India against indulging in any kind of violence.

(With the inputs from agencies)