CAA: Shaheen Bagh protesters meet with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal
A delegation of protesters from Delhi's Shaheen Bagh met with the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Anil Baijal, on Tuesday. Baijal appealed to the protesters to call off their month-long agitation against the Citizenship Amendment Act that has resulted in a road blockade, causing inconvenience to school children, patients, residents, commuters, and the general public. He urged them to convey their concerns to appropriate authorities.
Thousands, including women and children, have been protesting at Shaheen Bagh, near the Jamia Millia Islamia University, for over a month now. Their agitation against the newly implemented Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the National Register of Citizens (NRC), and the National Population Register has resulted in the blockade of a key road between South Delhi and Noida, causing traffic congestion on alternative routes.
Following the meeting, Baijal tweeted, "Met the delegation of protestors from Shaheen Bagh. Assured them to convey their concerns to appropriate authorities." "Appealed to call off their agitation in view of continued inconvenience to school children, patients, daily commuters, local residents, etc due to blockade of road," he added. In another tweet, he wrote, "I once again request all to maintain peace and order."
Met the delegation of protestors from Shaheen Bagh. Assured them to convey their concerns to appropriate authorities. Appealed to call off their agitation in view of continued inconvenience to school children,patients,daily commuters, local residents,etc. due to blockade of road. pic.twitter.com/E946YanD33
— LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) January 21, 2020
Top Delhi Police officers, including Joint Commissioner of Police (Southern Range) Devesh Srivastava and Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-East) Chinmoy Biswal, also attended the meeting with Shaheen Bagh protesters. "The Lieutenant Governor (Baijal) also directed the police officers concerned to take all steps as per law to ensure peace and harmony in the area," said officials.
Officials said that the delegation of Shaheen Bagh protesters, consisting of eight members, has submitted its demands, including the withdrawal of the contentious CAA, to L-G Baijal. The delegation also assured him that they would convey his message to others protesting at Shaheen Bagh. "We gave representation to the L-G," the protesters said after meeting Baijal, adding, "L-G has taken our demands positively."
At the meeting, the delegation of protesters also said that they would hold talks to open roads for school buses/students during exam time. While they did agree to allow school buses/students, they said that their protest would continue.
On January 14, the Delhi High Court disposed of a petition seeking directions to Delhi Police to re-open the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch, which has been closed since December 15 due to the protests. Refusing to intervene, the HC asked police to review traffic restrictions in accordance with the ground reality, keeping in mind the larger public interest and the law and order situation.
