Jamia teachers urge students to suspend CAA-protests on Christmas, students say will celebrate while protesting

The Jamia Teachers' Association (JTA) urged everyone including the students of Jamia Millia Islamia to suspend their protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) on Christmas Day as it is a festival of happiness and peace. The students, though, have decided to go ahead with the protest but also spread the Christmas cheer. They are set to celebrate Christmas together at the protest site.

Dr Majid Jamil, the Secretary of the JTA said that they had no conversation with the students on this issue and they have urged everyone to suspend the protest for a day to respect the birth of Jesus Christ. "Christmas is a globally celebrated festival of peace and cheer around the world. Therefore, JTA appeals to the students to spread a message of peace and love for humanity," he said.

On Christmas eve, the protesting students and citizens at large will march from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar — a 2km stretch — to protest the imminent application of the CAA and NRC. The march is being conducted by the Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) — a combined group of students from different organisations leading the protest. Buses were arranged to take the protestors from the varsity to Mandi House. "We will continue the protests no matter what. Other than the march there will be protests on campus," Ajaz Choudhary, National Joint Secretary of the AISA. "As for the protests on Christmas, even though the JTA has urged everyone to suspend the protests we will not adhere to that. But Christmas will be celebrated right here at the protest site," he added.