Many protesters were detained on Thursday from a protest against the citizenship law about a kilometer away near Red Fort
New Delhi: On Friday Chandrashekhar Azad the Bhim Army Chief escaped police custody and ran after leading a huge protest against the citizenship law at Jama Masjid in the old quarters of Delhi. Azad had been detained after agitation along with hundreds of supporters, during which he shouted slogans and waved flags from the steps of the historic mosque, dramatically defying the police.
Chandrashekhar Azad had managed to dodged police and had surfaced suddenly inside the gates of Jama Masjid just after Friday prayers, holding up a copy of the constitution and a photo of BR Ambedkar. Azad was detained soon after.
The Delhi Police had denied permission to Chandrashekhar Azad’s protest march against the CAA from Jama Masjid to Jantar Mantar in the heart of Delhi. But he tweeted that he would make it to the area anyway, and he did. “Please ignore the rumors of my capture. I am reaching Jama Masjid,” he tweeted.
Slogans of “Jai Bhim” raised out from the steps of Jama Masjid as Azad, who had covered his face with a blue jacket, emerged on the steps. Scores of policemen, prepared to push back against the protests, stayed on the other side of the gates, keeping a cautious eye on the rapidly swelling crowds. The drone camera was also deployed to monitor the situation.
Citizenship Amendment Act: Hundreds of protesters gathered at Delhi’s Jama Masjid with Bhim Army’s Chandrashekhar Azad, who was detained by Delhi Police.
Azad, 31, read out the preamble to the constitution, the crowd chanting alongside. Agitators inside the mosque complex then spilled over to the road, shouting slogans and wearing black bands.
The small streets near the Jama Masjid in the old quarters of Delhi rapidly filled up with crowds carrying flags and placards.
The police had been prepared for potential trouble but appeared hopelessly more numbers.
A police personnel was seen engaging with religious leaders to try and get the situation within control. When they finally got hold of Mr. Azad, they detained him. But as the police were about to take him in their vehicle, Azad broke away and vanished into the crowds.
Many protesters were detained on Thursday from a protest against the citizenship law about a kilometer away near Red Fort.
Under section 144, or a ban on large gatherings, was enforced in the Red Fort area yesterday. The restriction was lifted to enable Friday prayers or namaaz at the Jama Masjid.
The Citizenship Amendment Act aims at making it easier to granting citizenship to non-Muslims from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. Opposition parties, activists, celebrities and students protesting against the law say it discriminates against Muslims and is inimical to constitutional principles of secularism and equality.
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