It was a cold, bone chilling, grey day in Delhi—reflecting in a way the prevailing mood in the nation. In the national capital, protests against the controversial Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) and National Registrar of Citizens (NRC) were centred in the Old Delhi area during the day and India Gate in the evening.
The first was by the local population after offering Friday prayers at the Jama Masjid. It was largely peaceful even as the Bhim Army announced it would lead a protest post the prayer towards Mandi House.
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Bhim Army leader Chandrashekhar Azad's dramatic escape and emergence in defiance of Delhi Police’s effort to detain him was the focus in the afternoon. Post that, the protesters moved towards ITO but were stopped by police at Delhi Gate. They sat there for a long time and protested peacefully till, as per the cops, some mischievous elements entered and started disrupting the protest. The police got into action and used lathicharge and water cannons on the crowd. Several people were injured and some cars stationed nearby were also attacked.
At India Gate, post sunset, students from various universities started trooping in. In ones, twos, threes. In small groups—with parents, friends, family and teachers.
They sang slogans of unity and against the BJP-led government at the Centre. Some just stood in the line, not saying a single word, just holding placards. The crowd swelled to over a thousand. They kept themselves warm courtesy of the chai wallahs selling tea to the students.
Some Congress leaders came to lend support. Among them were former Union minister Salman Khurshid and former East Delhi MP Sandeep Dixit. However, they stayed away from the protesting students, respecting their wish to keep the protest apolitical.
Around 8 pm, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi arrived. She slammed the Narendra Modi-led government for “creating turmoil” with the CAA and the NRC. “This is like demonestisation. Only the poor will suffer. Where and how are they expected to get documents from?,” she asked.
However, students present there requested her to leave and not join the protest. Gandhi acceded to their wishes and soon left.
