"I'm A Mother...": Priyanka Gandhi Condemns Crackdown On Students

Priyanka Gandhi came out in support of the students across India protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act. She said the police action on students - at Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University - was "an attack on the soul of the nation". She was at a silent protest at Delhi's iconic India Gate to show solidarity with the students. "The government has given a blow to the Constitution. It is an attack on the soul of the nation. The youth is the soul of the nation. It is their right to protest," she said.

Thousands of protesters, including students took to the streets across the country with demonstrations across campuses despite the cold winters in North India. Priyanka Gandhi said, "I'm a mother too. You entered into their library, dragged them out and thrashed them up. This is tyranny".

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What Is The Citizenship Amendment Act

According to the Act, members of the Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Zoroastrian communities who have come from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh till December 31, 2014 and facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship. It also relaxes the provisions for "Citizenship by naturalisation". Many consider the law discriminatory as it singles out Muslims who constitute nearly 15 percent of country's population.

Law Schools Across India Unite

A large number of law schools have joined the protests by coming together. Student councils of NALSAR, National Law School, MNLS and others have issued a statement. "In a healthy democratic and political environment dissent is a necessary component." It further adds, "we stand with these students who suffered such brutality from the state."