Indians who believe in Gandhi's ideals are with us: Jamia students launch anti-CAA hunger strike

The students and alumni of Jamia Millia Islamia started off their new year with an indefinite hunger strike in front of Gate 7 of the varsity. They demand that the government revoke the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 and not implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR). They vowed to keep the protests going in a peaceful manner until the government agrees to their demands.

The protesting students and ex-students of the institution said that they will protest in the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi and are determined that it will yield favourable results. "This is a Relay Hunger Strike — groups of five people will be on hunger strike for 12 hours every day, from 9 am to 9 pm. And this will continue indefinitely. Today we are sitting here so tomorrow a different group of five students and alumni will be here," said Md Amanullah, a first-year student of MA in Social Exclusion. "We are trying to follow Gandhi's footsteps. Governments come and go but the country that believes in Gandhi's ideals will remain right here. His Satyagraha forced the British to leave India — we will follow his method to garner support from India, where people understand the power of non-violence. And at one point the government will have to concede," he added.

Led by the Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC), students and alumni of Jamia are demanding that the government repeal the CAA, NRC and NPR and added that all the non-violent protestors who have been allegedly arrested and those who have been illegally detained be released at once. The JCC also demanded an "impartial judicial enquiry in all the deaths related to police brutality across the country". "Withdraw the FIRs against peacefully protesting students," demanded the students. "We also demand that the government provide immediate compensation to all those affected in the police excesses," said one of the protesting students adding that they also demanded that internet shutdowns imposed across the country be revoked. Until their demands are met they plan to continue their indefinite hunger strike.