Constitutional right to express dissent, say IIT-Madras protesters

In Chennai, the protest that erupted in many educational institutions a couple of days ago continued with about 80 students of IIT Madras protesting at the Himalaya lawns on Thursday. Though the administration intervened and claimed that prior permission was denied for the gathering, the students responded that it was their constitutional right to protest peacefully for registering their dissent and continued the protest. A protest was also held at Valluvar Kottam in the city.

In Tiruchy, the students staged a series of protests and rallies against the Act, in which few students were arrested while they attempted to stop trains on the junction railway station. A heavy posse of police led by the City Commissioner of Police Varadharaju that was stationed in Tiruchy junction railway station, stopped and arrested the around 36 protestors when they attempted to overpower the police.

In Kumbakonam and Thanjavur, the students from various associations boycotted the classes and staged a protest in front of the Kumbakonam Government Arts and Science College for the second consecutive day. Meanwhile Athirampattinam came to a standstill with people closing their shops in support of the protests and no bus was operated on the road. Around 3,000 Muslims took to the roads and staged a rally from Periyakadai Veedhi mosque to the bus stand against the Act.

Students of Islamiah college in Vaniyambadi new town, Mazrul Uloom college in Ambur town and Sacred Heart College in Tirupattur boycotted the classes and staged a demonstration infront of the college.

In the union territory, more than 300 students of the Pondicherry Central University formed a human chain to protest against the CAA and the police assault on agitating Delhi students in Jamia Millia Islamia University recently.