The policemen who assaulted students at Jamia Milia Islamia University were not out to disperse the protesters. They were showing Muslims that they were second class citizens.
On the evening of Sunday, December 15, Maulana Muhammad Suleman Qasmi was standing at the iron gate behind the mosque of Jamia Milia Islamia. Hailing from Nuh in Mewat, he had taught Islamiyat/Islamic studies at University for many years before retiring in 1977. Since then, he had been the Imam of the mosque on the University campus and lived in a modest home behind the grand structure. The epic mosque and its clean surroundings bleed a spirit of calmness. The university is spread across a wide tract of land on both sides of the public road with more than a dozen Gates of entry and exit. The white assets of the mosque is in contrast to the prominent red brick exterior that leads to departments constructed alongside well kept lawns. One of the gates, right next to the Dr. Zakir Hussain library of Jamia, leads to the main entrance of the mosque.
That evening, there was a call for students of Jamia for a Gandhi peace march, which was joined in large numbers by residents from adjoining areas. Afroz Alam Sahil, a journalist who has written a book on Mahatma Gandhi’s connection with Jamia, explained why it was natural for students of University to claim Gandhi’s legacy:”The truth is he had a significant role in sustaining this institution. In fact, the founding fathers of Jamia have contributed more to the independence movement and the subsequent secular nation building project than the ruling party of today.” That evening, the students were marching to convey to the government that they were against the new discriminatory citizenship (Amendment) Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens(NRC). The Act goes against the basic tenets of the Constitution and makes naturalisation harder for Muslims while people from some other communities, including, of course Hindus from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh for grant of Indian citizenship.